LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.? 



XX&Q 



ft^pgngW JU0. 



! UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, f 




^L 



<^L^^t^^-jZ^L^ 







Life-Incidents 



OF f ■ . 



HOME, SCHOOL AND CHURCH, 



(AUTOBIOGEAPHICAL . ) 



In Seventeen Years of Instruction in Schools and Academies — In 

Extensive labors and Travels — In »Forty Years'* Work in 

the Ministry — In Social, Moral and Historical 

Correspondence — and in Literary and 

Scientific Lectures. 



BY 



EICHAKD CECIL STONE, 

Author of " Genealogy and Biography of the Stone Family," " Mis- 
sion Bride," " Mississippi Vale," etc. 



8 



SAINT LOUIS: _ 
SOUTHWESTERN BOOK AND PUBLISHING COMPANY, 

510 AND 512 WASHINGTON AVENUE. 
1874. 



THE LIBRARY 
OF COKGftfitS 

WASHINGTON i 



!klQj f\3 



Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1874, by 

RICHARD CECIL STONE, 
In the Office of the Librarian of Congress, at Washington. 



PREFACE 



Individual life, in its various phases, tells upon human- 
ity all around it; and much that is lost in the vast whirl 
of society would be profitable, if its facts and instrumen- 
talities could be spread out before the mind of a tempted, 
struggling, living world. Great acts, and great conse- 
quences, and great efforts, and great thoughts of great 
men are often thrown before the world. These have 
been interesting — have done good ; but the masses feel 
at once their incapacity to grapple with, and start upon 
such a life tour ; and thus much of their practical effect 
is lost. 

The farmer boy has his trials and struggles, his suc- 
cesses and defeats, his encouragements and discourage- 
ments. The apprenticed mechanic, with the accompani- 
ment of frowns and smiles, of privations and enjoyments, 
of reproofs and approbations ; his aids to virtue, and his 
temptations to vice, have all operated as the upward or 



IV PREFACE. 

downward steps by which he has ascended and descended 
the hill and vales of life ; they are the operations and in- 
fluences which, in a good degree, have placed him where 
he is. 

Draw out, for one of this class, on the real canvas of 
life, the actual life-events of a diversified humanity, with 
their causes and results j not gathered from the imagina- 
tions of a Dickens, or the fancy sketchings of an Arthur, 
but really drawn from actual experience and careful ob- 
servations, and you would place before him a chart of 
great practical interest, whether he develop into a 
"legislator" or a "hod -carrier." You have given facts 
and results not to be read merely, but to study and guide 
him over the self-same track. 

Such a work these reminiscences, in some degree, pro- 
fess to be : literally true, except in a few points, and those 
especially noted. What you have, therefore, in this work 
is actual life, individual humanity, real actors in the scenes 
delineated. The names in most cases are omitted, in 
order that early or late life-error may be instrumental in 
the correction of evil without marked suffering to those 

more immediately or remotely connected. 

R. C. S. 



CONTENTS 



CHAPTER I . 

Birth — Parents — Firmness — Don't Contradict Me, 1-2. 
Tongues — A Blast, 4. School — Church, 6. First Form 
of Death, 7. Man Seen in Boy — You Wish to See if 
Coffin will Fit, 9-10. Over the Dam, 12. Thiee Deaths, 
13. Cow Choked — Taming Mad Cats, 16-18. My New 
Grammar — What it Accomplished, 21. Rhode Island 
Schools, 23. Academy — Second to First Class, 26. 
Schools Taught, 27. Marriage, 29. Boy Punished — 
Indictment, 30. Removal to Massachusetts, 33. Genial- 
ity — Father and Son, 35. Bridle Road Battle, 36. Boun- 
dary in Swamp — Justice of the Peace, 40. Old Church 
Fight, 41. Father's Death, 42. Change of Life-Course 
— Removal to Oxford — Results, 44-7. Chester, Ver- 
mont, 48. Holbrook's Lectures, 49. Stanstead, L. C. — 
Removal to Oxford Plain, 50-1. 

CHAPTER II. 

Review — The Boy Preacher, 52-6. Doubts — Inn* 
delity Delineated, 57-9. Arguments — Testimony of Good 
and Bad Alike, 60-1. Military — First Temperance Ad- 
dress, 62-3. Permanent School — Classics — Higher 
Mathematics, 64-6. The Lyon and Pattridge — J. H. 
Gallup, 66-8. Translation of Jacob's Greek Reader, 70. 
Lectures on Teaching — Assistants — Success, 71-6. Ora- 



VI CONTENTS. 

tion July 4th, 76. Lectures, Scientific, Moral — Lady's 
Finger Burned, 78. Temperance Pledge — Theological 
Reading, 79. First Sermons — Criticisms, 80. Call to 
Pastorate, W. B. — Review of Last Nine Years, 81-3. My 
Uncle — Masonic Feats, 83-6. Trip to Central, N. Y., 
87. Return — Old Williams' House — Deerfield, 90. My 
Religious Views, 91. 

CHAPTER III. 

West Bridgewater — Its History — Three Ministers 169 
Years, 93-7. Religious Interest — Sunday School — Fes- 
tivals, 97-8. Early Piety — A Child's Faith, 99-100. 
Family Devotions, 101. Phrenology — Ignorance Ex- 
posed, 103. A Life of Five-score, 106. Clairvoyance — 
Chas. Poyen, 108. Temperance — Ames' Dog at Church 
— The Sinner Converted, 1 10-12. Hotel Bought — Wash. 
Lectures — Ten Drunkards, 112-14. Attempted Murder 
— Murderer Reformed — Visit 30 Years After, 1 15-18. 
Family Reminiscence, 119. Easton School Rioters, 1 2 1-4. 
Two Cases of Conscience, 125-6. I Leave for Sherborn — 
Revival — Sunday School — Gold Pencil, 127-30. Con- 
troversy — Parker's Infidelity, 131-42. Funeral — Seven 
Young Ladies, 143. Converted Infidel, 144. 

CHAPTER IV. 

Temperance — Drunkard's Death, 145. King of Traf- 
fic — Dialogue — Prosecutions — Legal Attack, 148-52. 
Extracts — Arson — Suicide — "Fire King," 153-5 Silver 
Pitcher, 156-9. Independent Church, 161. Installation 
Rev. J.' L. Stone, 162. Invitation to Boston, 163. An 



CONTENTS. VII 

Escaped Slave, 164. Shadrack — -Hale's Plea, 165-8. C. 
Cudmore's Death, 17 1-2. Letter from England, 173. 
Dedication — Cochituate — Sermon — Extracts, 174-6, 
Addresses Temp. — Maine Law, 177-9. New Member 
from C. C. (a Drama), 180-194. Marriage of Emi- 
grants, 195. 

CHAPTER V. 

Boston to Manchester, 197-9. "Mirror" — Extract, 
200. Church Dedicated, 201. To Niagara Falls — 
Burning Steamer Caroline — Whirlpool, 203-8. S. S. 
Library — Religious Drama — Song by a Child Three 
Years Old — Extract from Drama, 209-14. Amoskeag 
Fifty Years Ago, 214. Royal Amer. Lily, 215. White 
Mountains — W T illey House — Jokes — Ride — Top of Mt. 
Washington — Franconia Notch-Hume, 218-20. Home — 
Sab. — Bow in Clouds, 221. Dedication S. Elliot, Me., 
221. Cor. of "Stars and Stripes," 222. Lectures — Eyes 
Fail — Invitation to go West — Present from S. S., 223-4. 
Start West — Snow Storm — Gamblers and Fools, 225-7. 
Cincinnati — Bowie Knives — Evansville — Slang, 228-9. 
St. L. and Back— Down Alleghany — " Old P. C."— 
" Corn- planter," 231-3. Sab. on River, 235. Shipped 
on Prima Donna, 236. Bloody River Scenes, 237-9. 
Beauties of Slavery, 241-2. Giant 7 feet 8 inches, 242. 
Trips and Travels — Boat Officers — Fighting Scenes — 
Old Ford Shot, 243-9. 

CHAPTER VI. 

Up Missouri — Three Hundred Mormons — Big River 
Story — Gamblers and " Stool Pigeons," 252-8. Kansas 



VIII CONTENTS. 

War — Roughs — Preaching, 259-61. Return — Boat Sunk 
— God's overruling care, 263-5. Wife came West — Board- 
ing House Jokes — Threat of Murder, 266-9. Negro 
Shrewdness, 269-70. Daily Prayer- Meeting, 272. Return 
from Omaha — Frozen in — White Negro, 273-6. Employ- 
ers and Help — Examples, 277-81. Monticello — Singular 
Coincidence — Marriage — Death, 281-3. Mammoth Cave 
— Green River — Cypress Swamp — In the Cave, 284-8. 
Journey East — Harper's Ferry — City of Wash., 289-95. 
To N. E. — Our Children — Visits, 296-7. American Flag 
Raised— First Prisoners of the War, 299-300. Sermon, 301. 
Lane's Prairie — My Son — War Closed, 304. Trip East 
— Lakes, 305-7. Old Home — Old Friends, 308-9. Union 
Church Coventry, 309. Stone Family, 310-14. Visit 
Luzerne Co. — Wyoming, 315-18. 

CHAPTER VII. 

Home in St. Louis — Call at Bunker Hill, 111., 320. 
Revival — Extracts — Success, 322-4. A Voice — Jubilee 
Extracts, 324-5. Mattoon 'Family — Com., 326. Discus- 
sion — Cath. Priest, 327-34. Aurora — A "Fit" — Recov- 
ery — Results, 335-6. Invitation — Monticello, 337-9. 
Dismission B. H. — Trip up River — Race — Nauvoo — 
Giantess of 675 pounds — Lake Pepin — St. Paul — Min- 
neapolis — Lake Calhoun — Falls Minnehaha, 340-7. 
Return — The Bluff — A Conversion — Home, 347-9. 
States Traveled — Where I Have Preached, 349-50. Son 
Left Us — The Family — Conclusion, 350. 



INCIDENTS IN THE LIFE OF E. C. STONE. 



CHAPTER I. 

I was born July 18th, 1798, in Scituate, county of Pro- 
vidence, State of Rhode Island; was the last of four 
children, and twelve years younger than my living sister. 
The first two, a daughter and a son, died in childhood. 

Although I was blessed with kind parents, who cared 
for all my wants, yet I soon learned that human life was 
not designed to be a scene of continuous enjoyment, but 
a school of discipline, where, by a series of trials, instruc- 
tions and struggles, are brought into activity and devel- 
oped the nobler faculties of a soul-life — where we are 
shown the beauty and effulgence of an unveiled eternity ! 

My father, like most Rhode Island boys, began work 
in early life. Remarkably temperate in his habits, he 
enjoyed almost uninterrupted health till his decease, in 
1824, in the sixty-fifth year of his age. He was a man 
of great industry, of indomitable perseverance; and his 
judgment on all matters with which he was conversant 
was regarded as almost oracular. He was a man of 
great observation, and having a good memory, joined 
to a peculiar social tact, he made himself master of most 
matters of general interest, without the trouble of books. 
He had no love for reading, scarcely perused a book 
or looked over a paper; and yet he was a steady thinker 
— thinking with his head upon one subject, working with 



2 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

his hands upon another. He once gave me a striking 
proof of these facts. Among the very few times that he 
ever attempted to correct me by whipping, one occurred as 
follows, when I was about ten or twelve years old. We 
were plowing, with two yoke of oxen. He was holding; 
I was driving. The leading oxen were young and not 
well trained, and almost every time we came round the 
field, as we crossed the path leading to the barn, these 
leaders would run off. This would wake up father, and 
call out the reproof: " Careless boy ! " " Take better care 
of those steers ! " I would determine to do better ; yes 
I would. I would keep them right the next round ! But 
I was a dreamy boy, as my father was a dreamy man. 
I would forget, and off they would go again ! At length 
on one occasion I did remember — I kept the leaders 
straight. There was not a word said, and on we went, 
I rejoicing that I had kept my resolution. But the 
next round I forgot myself, and off they went again ! 
My father was angered. " You careless boy ! You don't 
try to mind your business ! Those leaders have run off 
every time we have passed this place since we began." I 
said, " No, father, they did not run off the last time. " He 
said, " They did ; you tell that which is not true." I 
replied, " I say the truth ; they did not run off the last 
time round." He replied, with greater anger, "Don't 
contradict me ! " I replied again, " I kept them straight 
the last time round." He seized the whip, took it from 
my hand, and whipped me severely, saying, " Will you 
now contradict me again ? " I looked him in the face 
and said, " Father, you may whip me to death, if you 



Home, School and Church. 3 

please, but I shall say with my last breath, I kept them 
straight forward the last time round." He again raised 
the whip, looked me with an indescribable expression in 
the eye for a moment, then threw the whip upon the 
ground, went to his plow, and bade me drive on. He 
was honest, thought he was right, and the whipping, 
though wrong, resulted in good to us both. It made him 
less positive, and me more careful in my work ; yet he 
felt that I did not deserve it, and has told me so in after 
life. 

Here, I now perceive, the Lord allowed an evil, grow- 
ing out of imperfect humanity, to work out a greater 
good, and all in accordance with moral agency. I had a 
glimpse of the same truth then, having read ParnelPs 
Poem, and some others on the same subject. My reading 
is among my earliest recollections ; in fact, I can not re- 
collect when I could not read, as my first remembrance 
of books is reading them. 

My father was a farmer, twelve miles from the city of 
Providence, and marketed his own butter, cheese, grain, 
peaches, apples, and hence was often in the city. He 
encouraged me to read, buying me books of stories and 
moral tales, and as often as I had mastered them, and 
talked with him describing their contents, he would buy 
me a new book ; and many is the hour that I have sat 
on his knee, a little boy of four, telling him what I had 
read that day. My mother also encouraged me, being 
herself fond of reading, and possessing, as did my father, 
a retentive memory, joined to a remarkable power of 
delineation and story-telling in the best sense of that 



4 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

word. I thus read, and understood everything in Bing- 
ham's Spelling Book, The Easter Offering, Robin 
Goodfellow, The History of a Little Great Man, Peter 
Pipin King of the Good Boys, The History of George 
Graceful, Entertaining Stories, and several other works, 
before I was six years old. Much of which, especially 
the poetry, I committed to memory, without intending 
to do so, and retain it to this day. 

When between four and five years old, I got into a 
difficulty, which taught me a lesson, as to neighborhood 
duties, relative to parents and children's tongues. I 
have somewhere read a fable of a nobleman, who, having 
a very wise Steward, ordered him to furnish a dinner of 
the best article in the world without reference to the ex- 
pense. The Steward provided a plentiful supply of 
tongues. The nobleman found no fault; was pleased 
with the dinner, and also with the ingenuity and shrewd- 
ness of the servant. He then ordered him to supply for 
the next day's dinner the worst article. Judge his sur- 
prise at finding on his table a plentiful supply of tongues 
again ! My difficulty when four years old is almost an 
illustration of the wisdom of the Steward's dinners. We 
had a neighbor within one-fourth of a mile, who had sold 
his home and was about to move away. My parents 
allowed me often to go in there, as the family seemed in- 
terested in my calls. At these times — as they had no 
children — I chatted freely with the woman and her 
daughter, who were about the age of my mother and 
sister, and I became somewhat interested in them. Our 
family were not; still there was no real difficulty, but 



Home, School and Church. 5 

there was a want of geniality. My ear had caught it. 
When in there on one occasion, the young woman said, 
" Richard, we are about to move away ; shan't you be 
sorry up at your house ? " I answered, " I shall be sorry, 
but our folks will be glad of it." It was but a small 
breath of carbonic gas, but it blew a gale between the 
two houses. The young woman, surcharged almost 
with visible lightning and audible thunder, was soon at 
my house, and tongues were in active use, though I be- 
lieve none were disposed of as were those at the noble- 
man's dinner-table. I was not reproved — only instructed 
somewhat in regard to family secrets. I also gained in- 
struction with regard to parental duty in training chil- 
dren — that the restraint should work both ways: the 
parents in speaking of their neighbors, and the children 
in telling what they hear said. 

Although at five I was familiar with story books, and 
could read without hesitation any plain reading, yet I 
was never taught at home as a regular exercise. I read 
my books oftentimes aloud, and, finding a hard word or 
unintelligible sentence, sought aid. Nor did I, in my 
early childhood days, ever attend school. Rhode Island 
had not in those days, nor for years afterwards, any pub- 
lic schools ; but private schools, more or less convenient, 
and more or less properly taught, were in operation all 
over the State. My father sent me to one of them two 
weeks, when I was about five years old. The teacher 
kept me the whole two weeks in one lesson, and I knew 
it by rote before going to school. My father, learning 
this, took me out of school, saying " he would send me 



6 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

no longer to such a blockhead." When six years old 
the family moved to Coventry Centre, about eight miles 
from our former home in Scituate. Then in May, before 
I was seven in July, I entered a good school for chil- 
dren of my age, and, on examination, was put in the first 
class in reading and spelling, using the "American Pre- 
ceptor " as a reading book. We were now within half a 
mile of a church and regular preaching ; and though my 
parents were not connected with any religious denomin- 
ation, yet they encouraged me in a steady attendance at 
the house of God. My mother was frequently at church, 
my father but seldom ; and, although a believer in im- 
mortality, yet he was a strong opposer to the " Calvinis- 
tic Doctrine ot Decrees," and this view was prominent 
with the Calvinist Baptist, the principal denomination in 
our place. Notwithstanding this, my father purchased a 
pew in the church, was chosen on the committee, and was 
active in repairs and all improvements on the church 
grounds. I was constant, encouraged by both parents, 
in my attendance upon church during all the years of 
my boyhood, and was rarely ever absent. 

On one rainy morning our stated preacher, Rev. 
Charles Stone, and a young man studying divinity with 
him, were the only persons in the church when I en- 
tered; and, as I went to my seat, I heard the young man 
say, "That boy is always here!" Thirty years after I 
entered the church on that rainy morning, with no one 
but the two ministers there, the same three met again in 
the same place ! The little boy, now Pastor of the Con- 
gregational Church, West Bridgewater, Mass., preached 



Home, School and Church. 7 

in the morning ; the young minister, now Pastor of the 
Baptist Church, Middletown, Conn., preached in the 
afternoon ; the old minister, now eighty years of age, 
could only say, " God be thanked for this meeting ! " 
To this constant presence in my early days I attribute 
much of my love of church-going through life. The 
days of childhood — how strong is the impress they leave 
upon the mind ! How beautiful is that old, unpainted 
church, with its high pulpit, and square deacon's seat 
just below it ! I can hear now in sweet remembrance the 
chorister pitch the tune, sing the first line — " Thee we 
adore, eternal name " — before the congregation rose to 
join him ! 

When a child is taught in early life to associate its child- 
hood days with the House of God as something loving, 
beautiful and true, they are never forgotten. Parents 
who do this give their children a picture seen in such a 
light, and within such a setting, as can never fade out. 
from the God-woven canvass which hangs in the heart. 
I had before this a view ot death, with some clearness, and 
the life which is beyond. Yes, I remember the first form 
of Death upon which I ever looked when only five years 
old. I remember the inquiries to which it led me on 
my return home. My dear mother answered my inqui- 
ries, pointing me to a life beyond this, telling me of 
Jesus and heaven, and the home of the good, of which 
I had often read. My books after this became to me 
more of a reality ; I had believed them before, but now 
the accounts of heaven and a future life seemed to assume 
a somewhat different aspect. I well recollect the satis- 



8 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

faction which the idea of immortality gave me. Yes, 
Anne (the young lady's name was Anne Simmons) had 
gone to the home of the good in heaven ! and the fear 
which had seemed to hang around the thought of death, 
the pale, white form which I had looked upon, was gone. 
As I read the martyrdom of John Rodgers in the primer, 
and the resurrection of Christ in the Bible, whatever 
there was of shadow had passed away in the reality of 
the death and burial of what I had just witnessed. It 
left an impression on my mind which remained — became 
a part of my soul-existence. 

The winter following my first school in summer I at- 
tended the winter school taught by E. Robinson. One 
circumstance occurred during this term which brought 
me out into the sunlight, and taught me a lesson which 
my ardent, impulsive nature much needed. A boy some 
four years older than myself was very profane ; another 
large boy told me and another lad about my age to flog 
him for swearing. We commenced, and, in the language 
of the West, " pitched in." I gave the swearer a blow 
in the face which caused his nose to bleed, and at that 
unlucky moment — as we thought — the teacher came. 
The matter was investigated, and the whole four pun- 
ished. My chastisement and that of my fellow-worker were 
but a mere form, while the two older boys, the swearer 
and the setter-on, were punished with some severity. It 
should be remembered that school punishments by flog- 
ging were much more common in those days than now. 
An appeal to the conscience is oftentimes much more 
effective than the whip or ferule. As I look back upon 



Home, School and Church. 9 

myself in my boyhood days I seem to be earnest, almost 
rough, at play ; ardent, passionate, affectionate ; prompt 
to assist a friend, almost without considering the justice 
or injustice ; ready to defend the weak or do battle for 
the oppressed or abused ; always unyielding to equals 
in words and actions ; strongly inclined to answer back, 
even to superiors; thus sometimes giving rise to strong 
contentions, but ready to acknowledge the wrong when 
made to appear. The boy, in most instances, shows up 
the man — the same traits of character out-cropping all 
the way along the path of life. The boldness or timidity 
with which life is met; the energy or weakness with 
which difficulties are encountered; the persevering or 
yielding which marks a life-course ; the tenderness or 
hardness which moves the soul amid the various scenes, 
the observations and mental impressions which infix 
themselves upon the mind, gushing out in question- 
ings, attempted descriptions, or illustrations and com- 
parisons, all these in the boy more or less show up 
the man. Childhood, in its earliest recollections, brings 
with it to me a striking course of analogical thought, 
ripening into reasoning by resemblance. It was to 
this that such hymns as " Rock of Ages cleft for me," 
"The Tree of Life my soul hath seen," "Watchman, 
tell us of the night," and others of a similar charac- 
ter became to me a soul-impiession when I first read 
them ! To the power of analogical thought, ParneU's 
Poem of the Hermit impressed itself upon my mind. I 
recollect a circumstance which brought out this innate 
principle when I was but five years old. My father 



io Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

was going to Providence with a wagon-load of peaches, 
some twenty-five bushels; I was to go with him; it 
was my first trip to the city. We were to start about 
midnight. That his boy might be made comfortable 
and sleep some on the way, he made a kind of box with 
boards against one side of the wagon in which I might lie. 
When he had about completed it he called me to him, 
directing me to lie down in it. While I was getting in I 
said to him, " You wish to see if the coffin will fit, do 
you ? " My father, with a look of astonishment, ex- 
claimed, " Ho ! what a boy! " I can see this same trait 
cropping out all along my whole life-course. To this 
mode of illustration may be traced much of my success 
in teaching; and every discourse which I have written 
derives much of its strength from this same principle of 
illustration and mode of reasoning. 

Parents, by observing natural traits of character in 
their children, may, in a good degree, be qualified to 
direct them in a suitable and successful course of life, to 
arrange for their study and practice in the mechanic arts, 
to start them upon a scientific course, to encourage them 
and educate them for a professional life, or to prepare 
them for mercantile or agricultural pursuits. Parents, by 
by their ignorance on these subjects, often make great 
mistakes : e. g., a wealthy man has three boys ; he has a 
misguided ambition, and his boys a large share of idle- 
ness ; he very soon sees in one a lawyer, in another a 
physician, in another a clergyman, and he educates them 
severally for these professions. They have no fitness or 
adaptation to either ; they strive to make their way in 



Home, School and Church. ii 

life — it is a failure ! the community suffers, and they suf- 
fer by their unfitness and stupidity. The same boys 
might have made good mechanics, agriculturists or man- 
ufacturers ; but they are miserable lawyers, physicians, 
ministers. 

This same principle runs into the moral, also. By 
checking the wrong and encouraging and developing the 
right, the evil, by God's promised assistance, may be 
crushed and eradicated and right and truth established. 
I have seen this in my own family. I observed in two 
of my own children the principles of generosity and 
covetousness very strongly marked — the one wished 
always to share what it had with others ; the half to this 
child was always better than the whole. It always 
shared its raisins, its grapes, its fruit, with others, of its 
own free will. The other wanted the whole — would hug 
up its goodies, saying, "mine," "mine," "mine," when 
only two years old. We saw the need of especial culti- 
vation, and adopted means to effect it. When we first 
begun, and the example of the generous child, or the per- 
suasive power of sympathy, induced it to give, it would 
look its raisins carefully over, selecting the very smallest, 
and then, rejoicing in its own conquest, would, with great 
satisfaction, exclaim, " I did ! I did ! " This was, in early 
life, by careful training, removed little by little, so that, 
years before maturity, no trace of it could be seen. 

Several circumstances connected with my boyhood 
life were somewhat marked in their character, though not 
especially developing anything farther than resolution 
and activity. I was a large, strong boy of my age, pro- 



12 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

bably should have been adjudged fifteen at thirteen. I 
was skating upon a mill-pond about half a mile long, 
near my home. The pond was made by a dam across 
the stream, of wall and plank some ten feet high, the 
waste water falling over the plank at the top. This pond 
was, at the time which I am describing, strongly frozen 
over, and the ice cut back from the edge along the 
plank over which the water ran, about two inches deep, 
then tumbling down the ten feet to its base at the bottom 
of the river. I skated to the upper end of the pond, 
and, turning, ran down towards the dam with my utmost 
speed, turning at the plank's edge, as near as possible to 
the very verge of the dam. This I did several times. 
At length, making my turn to the right instead of the 
left, my skates slipped, and over the dam I went ! Turn- 
ing upon my face in the fall, I caught with my hands by 
the edge of the plank, and held on. 'Twas a moment, 
it seemed to me, of life and death. I was hanging by 
the edge of the plank, my feet some five feet from the 
rocks in the river's bottom below, the sheet of water 
about two inches thick pouring down into my face and 
all over me. Some men about thirty rods off started 
upon the run, but before they reached me I had got foot- 
hold on the stones of which the dam was built, and, 
climbing to the top, got again upon the ice and ran 
away. This story has been often repeated in Sabbath 
Schools and gatherings of young people, in which the 
moral is, "Do not skate too near the edge of the dam." 
Many a skater less fortunate than I has gone down, 
down to a destruction as terrible as it is sure ! 



Home, School and Church. 13 

In three instances in my boyhood days I was very 
near death, though I cannot discover a general want of 
care in my life- course; and few men have met with a 
less number of accidents and disappointments than I 
during my mature life. The first of these three was at the 
raising of a mill. I was eight years old. Most of the 
men and boys of Coventry Centre were present. There 
had been an old mill there and was in ruins some twenty 
rods above the new. The old " wheel -pit" was full of 
water, some four or five feet deep. Eight or ten of us boys 
were playing among the ruins, when I tumbled in. I made 
quite a splash by falling in, but no noise afterwards. The 
boys gave the alarm, and, as soon as the men could be 
made to understand the case and reach the place, I was 
pulled out entirely unconscious. I was soon restored to 
life, suffering but little from pain — none that I recollect 
except in the resuscitation. It spoiled my play, how- 
ever, for that afternoon. All I ever can bring to my 
mind of the facts are, falling in, reaching out with my 
hand and touching nothing, and struggling to breathe on 
a bench where they had laid me, and were using means 
for my restoration to life. 

The second instance was in the autumn of the same 
year, I was choked with an unripe grape. My father and 
I were in a pasture, three-quarters of a mile from the 
house. Seeing some fine looking, large grapes were on a 
vine running upon a small birch tree, he stepped up the 
tree a few feet, commenced eating himself, and throwing 
them down to me, They were scarcely ripe, and the 
skins slipped off with difficulty from some. While eating 



14 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and looking up to him, a large grape escaped the pressure 
of my tongue, and, unskinned, entered the glottis. The 
struggle was dreadful ; the blood gushed from my mouth 
and nose ; I fell to the ground, sometimes fainting, some- 
times in agonizing spasms. My father took me in his 
arms and carried me more than half way home, stopping 
from time to time as the paroxysms, violent struggles or 
faintings returned or changed their aspect. During one 
of these struggles of nature for relief, the grape was dis- 
lodged, I breathed freely the fresh air — it was the sweet- 
est moment of my life. I was not entirely well, how- 
ever, for several days ; every part ot my system had 
suffered, but it soon passed off. 

The third instance was the year following — I was 
struck with lightning. My brother-in-law, a lad of tour- 
teen, and myself, were plowing with a team of four oxen 
and a horse in the lead. I was driving the rear oxen ; 
the lad of fourteen was driving the other oxen and the 
horse, and my brother-in-law was holding the plow. A 
shower was gathering; the lightning was sharp and the 
thunder heavy ; the rain did not seem immediately near 
us. Unconscious of anything unusual, I found myself 
coming into a sentient state, and lying on the ground. 
My brother-in-law was standing about ten feet from me, 
his hat off, seemingly unconscious, and rubbing his head. 
The team was about one-fourth of a mile from us, on the 
way toward home, apparently frightened ; the lad hold- 
ing on to the bridle of the horse, and trying to quiet the 
oxen. The facts in the case were, none of us saw the 
lightning nor heard the thunder. My brother-in-law 



Home, School and Church. 15 

was stunned, rendered unconscious, his head hurt, but 
not thrown down. The lad's arm was hurt — made quite 
lame, but he was not stunned, and had his consciousness 
aH the time. The team was frightened, partially knocked 
down, and immediately ran for home ; and the lad over- 
took and stopped them. That bolt of lightning struck a 
tree about thirty rods from us — ran down to the ground, 
leaving its mark from the top to the bottom, then along 
the ground some eight rods to a small river, loosening in 
its way a rock of more than five tons weight. Although 
prostrated and stunned, I was less hurt than either of the 
others. Bro. Hawkins felt the effect in his head for 
weeks. The lad's arm was for several days quite lame, 
while in two hours I was as well as ever. I have thus 
been made acquainted in some degree with three forms 
of death, though a merciful Father watched over and 
sent me forth hale and hearty to perform an earnest life- 
work of more than sixty-five years since. So far as my 
recollections are of any avail in forming the judgment, 
death by strangulation is the most to be dreaded, while 
that by lightning is instantaneous and painless ; and 
death by drowning is almost as much so — a passing 
away with very little pain. These are, however, but the 
recollections of a child, and facts may be very different 
when accompanied by the experience, knowledge and 
clearer remembrance of riper years. 

In my early life I avoided scenes of suffering. I re- 
collect that when my father was about to kill an ox that 
I ran from the scene, putting my fingers in my ears lest 
I should hear the fatal blows. My father felt the same 



1 6 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

tenderness. He, too, would have responded to the lan- 
guage of the poet : 

" I would not number in my list ot friends ♦ 
The man who needlessly sets foot upon 
A worm." 

When I was about twelve years old a neighbor's cow 
was choked with an apple. More than thirty neighbors, 
men and boys, had assembled to relieve, if possible, the 
suffering animal. The man was a poor man ; it was his 
only cow. She was fearfully swollen, and various were 
the efforts to administer relief. Nothing promised suc- 
cess, except to put the hand down the throat and take 
away the obstruction. The cow, furious with agony, was 
thrown upon the ground. It must be a boy's hand and arm 
to do the work ; no other could reach the obstruction, and 
it was not certain even that this would produce the desired 
effect. It certainly would require the arm pushed down the 
throat its entire extent, bringing both the arm and shoulder 
directly between the animal's grinders, a single shutting 
of which would destroy the arm entirely and forever. It 
was decided that a square mallet placed between the 
grinders would, if kept there, secure the mouth from shut- 
ting ; but, amid the violent struggles of the cow, could it 
be securely held there, and where was the boy among 
the dozen present who would risk it ? The question was 
asked ; the men and women present looked round upon 
us ; for a moment, no one answered. I then said : 
" Father, if you will hold the mallet, I will do it." He 
hesitated a moment, then said : " With the aid of these 
men in securing the cow, I am sure I can do it safely." 



Home, School and Church. 17 

The mallet was placed between the jaws, my hand went 
down the throat until my shoulder pressed hard against 
the back portion of the mouth, and hard between the 
upper and lower teeth. I felt them move, but the mallet 
was held firm. I reached the apple, got my fingers 
around it, took it out, the cow was well. Fifty-five years 
afterward I met a widowed daughter of the owner of the 
cow, and in the introduction asked her if she " remem- 
bered me in my boyhood." She replied, " indeed, I do; 
I remember when you took an apple from our old cow's 
throat, and saved her life." 

Another instance of courage and presence of mind : 
Some twenty boys, I among the rest, were skating on the 
Centreville pond in Warwick (I was visiting at my 
uncle's). The deepest water in the middle of the pond 
was unfrozen. John Walker, a boy of fourteen, ventured 
out near the unfrozen portion, and broke in. He clung 
to the edge of the ice, shouting, " help me ! " One of the 
boys answered, " we can't help you." " I said, " don't 
tell him so, it will discourage him ; and shouted myself, 
" hold on : we will help you." I then, followed by two 
or three other boys, ran to a slab fence at the edge of the 
pond, tore off a slab, ran back, and pushing one end out 
to the boy, he was drawn out upon the ice, and his life 
saved ! This happened the year I was eleven. An in- 
stance of courage occurred the year before. A family 
having moved from our neighborhood wished to take to 
their new home two pet cats, and their boy came the day 
after, and wished me, with three or four others, to assist 
him in catching and securing them. On reaching the 



1 8 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

house one was secured very easily, but the other was 
more wild. Following the absconding cat from room to 
room, and from cellar to garret, we perceived her tail 
protruding through a hole or crack in a partition in the 
woodhouse. We quickly fastened a cord around it in 
such a manner that the cat was secure, though we were 
obliged to lengthen the cord, and let her run somewhat, 
ior we could not pull her back. We gave her cord, and 
away she ran ; and, jumping from point to point, the 
cord brought her up, and she hung suspended by the 
tail. The pain produced by the cord, and her uncom- 
fortable suspension, rendered her furious. She yelled, 
spit, showed claws and teeth, as the circle of boys gath- 
ered around her. We attempted — protecting our hands 
with a leather apron — to seize her; then to hold her with 
sticks, but all in vain ; it only made her the more furious. 
In this dilemma I said : " Boys, be ready to help me," 
and that moment sprang upon her bare-handed. In less 
than half a minute I had her secure, with only a few 
bites and scratches from her teeth and claws. She 
seemed to understand that I did not intend her harm, 
and offered no resistance after I took her in my arms. 
One of the boys, speaking of the event sixty years after, 
said he thought my whole life had been devoted more or 
less to catching and taming mad cats — alluding to Edu- 
cation, Temperance, Slavery, and the varied struggles 
through which I had passed. 

The summer of 1806 was the year of the great and 
total eclipse of the sun. In July of that summer I was 
eight years old, and steadily attended a school taught by 



Home, School and Church. 19 

Henry Baxter, in Coventry Centre, in my own neighbor- 
hood. The school was well taught, and reading and 
writing were the studies to which I attended. The 
teacher especially called my attention to reading, which 
he called speaking from a book ; and as my father had 
bought me a copy of Scott's Lessons, which, in addition 
to g^ven directions for speaking, contained several plates 
and illustrations by means of which I got much interested 
in reading and speaking. When I first took my new 
book to school it was the only one of the kind, and the 
teacher allowed me to read from it alone, but others 
were soon bought, and we became the first class, while 
the old American Preceptor ever afterward was a reading 
book of the second grade in all our school classification. 

One especial lesson I took just as I commenced at- 
tending school which I never forgot. I had an uncle, 
my mother's brother, a literary man, who had been a 
teacher of academies and high schools through life. He 
was on a visit at my father's, and I was put on exhibi- 
tion, being a fine reader, as was thought, for a boy of 
eight. So a piece was selected, and I roared it off, as I 
thought, in fine style. Instead of praise, as I expected, 
and usually received, my uncle took the book and read 
the same piece in the same manner as I had done ! He 
then read it right, giving it proper emphasis and tone, 
and, handing me the book, said not a word. I did not 
feel that I had received much praise, but I got what was 
better — a life lesson upon reading which has been to me 
of much advantage. 

I had read the story of Parnell's Poem, the Hermit, 



20 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

rendered into prose when only five years old, and had a 
tolerably clear idea of what is meant by " second means" 
in God's regulation and government ot the world. In 
my reading book, " Scott's Lessons," I had the whole 
poem. I was delighted. It impressed upon my mind 
the constant presence of the great Father whose wisdom 
gilds, and hallows, and renders useful every dark scene 
here ; and in the plenitude of whose light, life, truth and 
love, we shall move and have our existence forever. 
Unconsciously I committed the poem to memory, much 
of which remains to this hour. 

When nine years old we had a teacher who was almost 
an enthusiast upon grammar. That study had rarely at 
that time, 1807, been introduced into the schools of R. 
I. Reading, writing, and arithmetic were about all, ex- 
cept that the upper classes read from Morse's or Parish's 
Geographies perhaps once or twice a week. No map 
study; a few questions asked from the reading lesson 
was all the instruction in the common schools. One 
teacher, of 1807-8, wished to get up a grammar class. 
There was a boy living near by the name of Nathan 
Wright, who was my especial friend and intimate asso- 
ciate. In this boy's family the teacher boarded. His 
father had rather just views of education for the time, 
and, at the request of the teacher, purchased an abridge- 
ment of Murray's Grammar, and Nathan was earnestly 
at work. The teacher asked me, seconded by my play- 
mate, to join him. I needed no persuasion, and at once 
said I would ask my father. On my return home I said : 
" Father, I wish you would buy me a Grammar-book; I 



Home, School and Church. 21 

wish to study grammar." " Grammar!" said my father. 
" What is grammar? " " Well, I don't know, but Nathan 
Wright is studying, and I want to." " Well, but what 
will grammar teach you to do ? " "I don't know ; but 
Nathan Wright is studying, and I want to." " What can 
you do if you learn grammar that you could not do with- 
out it ? " "I don't know ; Nathan Wright is studying, 
and I want to." " Will it make you any more of a man 
if you study it ? " "I don't know; Nathan Wright is 
studying, and I want to." This was all the answer I 
could give. My father neither consented nor refused; 
but within a week, returning from Providence, he pre- 
sented me with, not an abridgement, but " Murray's 
Large Grammar." I went into school that morning a 
little taller than ever before. Within a week my father 
was commissioned to purchase a book similar for Nathan, 
and his little abridgement was laid aside. From that 
time English Grammar became an important study in the 
school near " Coventry Centre." It is astonishing often 
to look back upon the history of individual life and mark 
the wonderful results of small things. One of the most 
successful bankers in Paris, who died a few years since 
immensely rich, was started upon the railroad of pros- 
perity by picking up a pin. A poor boy, without friends, 
he called one morning at a large banking house in the 
city, and inquired of a man present if there was any work 
connected with the bank of which they would give him 
employment. The President — it was he whom the boy 
addressed — told him there was none. As the boy walked 
out of the door, and toward the street, the man observed 



22 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

him stoop and pick up a pin. The banker, who had 
been from the first rather interested in his modest, manly 
deportment, and now seeing his observation and care, 
sent out and called him back. Conversing a few mo- 
ments, he gave him a place as " errand boy ; " from 
which position his faithfulness and honesty elevated him 
step by step until he stood in the employer's place at the 
head of the establishment. Small things have a mighty 
influence on the world, and are, perhaps, more frequently 
than we imagine the result of some cultivated trait of 
character rather than of mere accident. That boy prob- 
ably had learned to " gather up the fragments, that 
nothing be lost." It was the basis of his fortune, not 
merely by being called back and employed, but it shaded 
his whole life with a practical virtue. So the little inci- 
dent of this grammar-book has directly induced the edu- 
cation of between forty and fifty who have graduated, 
receiving diplomas from the colleges of the East and 
West. First, it was the moving lever which formed my 
own education j took me from the plow and the scythe, 
for which my good father had designed me ; led me to 
establish a school in Worcester county, Mass., exten- 
sively preparing young men and women for teachers be- 
fore the days of Normal Schools. Second, it led me to 
educate my entire family — two of my own sons who 
graduated at Brown University; and third, by a study 
of the classics preparatory to college entrance, and the 
remaining six, two sons and four daughters, for the 
highest class of common schools in our States, which 
position yearly they have filled. Besides these, there are 



Home, School and Church. 23 

forty or fifty graduates whose names we know, and hun- 
dreds, and thousands even, who have taken their literary 
shade of character from the influence of that " grammar- 
bookP Brown, R. I., Dartmouth, N. H., Yale, Conn., 
Amherst and Harvard, Mass., Washington University, 
Mo., and Oxford, England, even are now educating the 
boys who have stepped from the foundation of that old 
grammar, which my father brought trom Providence in 
1807. 

My father designed to make me a practical surveyor. 
I have often heard him say, as he had some taste for 
mathematics, that " Richard should study surveying ; " 
but, with this exception, beyond the common schools, he 
had had no idea. During the intervening time between 
my first study of grammar at nine, and my leaving the 
Common School at fifteen, we had a few good teachers, 
but in most cases they were incompetent. Grammar, 
composition and mathematics, however, were attended 
to more or less every year, either at home or at school. 
I had matured the study of grammar, studied the exer- 
cises in false syntax, devoted much time to the principles 
of composition, read, and in some degree understood, 
geography and natural philosophy, worked through 
Daboll's and Pike's large Arithmetic, though my school 
months to well educated teachers had been few. 

The schools of R. I. were in those days conducted 
with no regularity or system, and yet there were as many 
or more schools than there were among the same popu- 
lation in Connecticut or Massachusetts. A few men of 
activity in a neighborhood having children to educate 



24 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

would agree to hire, and pledge themselves to pay and 
board a teacher. Then, as many as chose could come 
into the arrangement, generally signing a brief statement 
of the agreement, and the number of scholars each one 
would send, and thus equalizing the board and pay. 
Others, who did not wish to enter this partnership, sent 
their children, paying by the week ; thus reducing the 
amount to be divided in the final settlement between the 
first contractors and the teacher. There was no superin- 
tendent of schools > no examinations of teachers, and no 
general or special supervision of schools. It may be 
easily seen how liable the people were to be deceived, 
and the children placed in a worthless school. The con- 
dition of things has materially changed. The school 
system of other States has reflected the bright beams of 
intellectual light upon her rocky soil, her swift dashing 
streams, her hardy yeomanry, and her life-stirring vil- 
lages, so that now school houses, like so many maternal 
guardians, stand with open doors, inviting, and even 
urging the young to receive their blessings without 
money and without price. More than this. The old 
saying, " The rejected teachers of Connecticut will do for 
Rhode Island ! " — " will do for the Johnny Cakes," has 
passed away. The " Johnny Cakes " of Rhode Island 
no longer need dipping in the " Bean Porridge " of Con- 
necticut before they will keep. Many of the best edu- 
cated men of our country have laid the foundation of 
their educational success in the Free Schools of the 
" Little State," within hearing of the buzz of the spindle 
and the clatter of the loom. The Free School system 



Home, School and Church. 25 

was not in operation, however, until ten years after I left 
the State. 

During my home studies, in my years of fifteen and 
sixteen, I, from time to time, suggested to my father the 
idea of attending an academy or high school. He never 
opposed me earnestly, nor really consented until I was 
past sixteen ; then, with his consent, mounted on a fine 
young horse of his, I rode out of the State of Rhode 
Island for the first time. I called upon and conversed 
with Archibald Burgess, Principal of Plainfield Academy, 
engaged to enter, agreed for my board, and returned 
home, happy with my prospect of success. My father 
seemed pleased, and the next week I left home for the 
first time in my life, except to visit friends for a few days. 
The Principal on examination found my knowledge of 
language, grammar and rhetoric such that he placed 
me immediately in the first class, in which I maintained 
a good standing from the first. In the higher branches of 
mathematics, geometry, trigonometry, I was not so ad- 
vanced, and was put in the second class. Other studies, 
such as geography, and the primary books of Latin, came 
in for a small portion of my time. The first two, how- 
ever, were my principal studies. In the study of mathe- 
matics I had permission, while reciting my lesson regu- 
larly, to go on faster than the second class. The request 
was granted ; and, before I was aware, I had worked in 
advance of the first class. My attention was called to 
the fact in the following manner : Many of us were per- 
mitted to study — to get our lessons out of the regular 
school-room, being in at the hours of recitation. I, 



26 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

among the number, while studying in one of the unused 
dormitories of the Academy, heard Dan Tyler, since one 
of the West Point Cadets, and during the late war, a 
general at, and in the neighborhood of Bull Run, say, 
in rather a low tone of voice as he looked down from a 
window, " Cleveland, can you tell me how to work the 
ninth problem in our lesson ? " Rectangular surveying 
was the study. Cleveland, who, by the way, was the late 
Dr. Cleveland, of Pawtucket, answered, " No ; but Stone 
up there can tell you." " Stone ! " said Tyler, " he is in 
the second class." " No matter for that," replied Cleve- 
land, " he has worked beyond our lesson, and understands 
it." Tyler came to me, presented his difficulties, and 
asked me to aid him. I did so, and started him on. 
" And now," said he, " I want to know why you are in 
the second class ? " Well, I told him I hardly knew ; I 
entered it on my first coming, by examination, and had 
worked on. " Well," said he, " you ought not to be 
there. I will speak to Burgess about it." He did so, 
and without a very critical examination I entered the 
first class of higher mathematics. 

At the close of the summer term I returned home for 
the vacation of two weeks only. The last three miles of 
my trip home I went on foot, and as I drew nearer and 
nearer to that " old homestead," where were so many en- 
dearments and remembrances, I became quite excited, 
and the last half mile ran every step of the way. With 
the next term of the Academy, closing with the autumn 
months, I left, asking the Principal for a letter of recom- 
mendation if he thought me qualified to teach a common 



Home, School and Church. 27 

school. It was cheerfully given, and I, returning, en- 
gaged myself to teach a school about ten miles from 
home. That school closed with satistaction, and I went 
home rejoicing, thankful for my success, and ready to 
commence with the already opened spring the active la- 
bors upon my father's farm. The same course I pursued 
the second year ; teaching four months, from November 
to April, and working at farm labor during the remain- 
ing portion of the year. 

I had not then, nor did I until several years afterward, 
decide upon a ^different course. 

I was now eighteen. My father owned about four 
hundred acres, in three tarms, besides some out lands 
near " Coventry Centre," most of which was farmed by 
himself, especially the oats and grass ; the pastures, too, 
were mostly grazed by his cattle. The corn and potatoes 
usually were rented on shares to men living in his houses. 
Harvesting— the hay and oat harvest especially — were 
seasons of many hands and hard work. In this I had 
from my boyhood up every year engaged ; and, having 
a strong, robust constitution, few men, after I was six- 
teen, could perform those duties with more skill and 
judgment, and my father gave me the lead whenever he 
was not present. He saw in me his wishes almost en- 
tirely met — a practical surveyor, a school teacher of good 
success, and a farmer well educated for the times. 

There was a land surveyor in our neighborhood, an 
aged man, who had for years done much work in that 
line for that section of the country. With this man I 
became somewhat a favorite, and he employed me to do 



28 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

many little matters in his line, using his instruments, and 
submitting my work to his inspection. This year my 
father bought some eighty acres of land in that vicinity ; 
and, on measurement by the surveyor, employed by the 
seller, there were several acres more than was suspected. 
A measurement was suggested. The old surveyor said 
to my father : " Take my instruments and set your boy 
about it." My father suggested this to me, and it may 
be safely put down that I did not object. We run the 
lines with great care; there was little or no variation 
from the other measurement. I then drew the plan, 
measured it carefully, and it fell short about four acres. 
I compared notes, drew again on the same scale as the 
former surveyor, and found the mistake in the first survey, 
clearly and plainly. To place the matter beyond a 
doubt, I made a rectangular calculation; i. e., a calcula- 
tion of the quantity by lines of latitude and departure, 
without a plan or map, and found the same quantity as 
before. My father was then prepared to call in question 
the survey and deed offered him, and on a full re-exami- 
nation the grantor and his surveyor acknowledged their 
mistake, and made another deed for some two hundred 
dollars less. My father was proud ot the result, and my 
father's boy, as he received the congratulations of the 
whole neighborhood, the old and the middle aged, felt a 
glow of pride, I fear somewhat allied to vanity. 

This year, like the former, closed with farming and a 
four months' school, with one exception. I enlisted in 
the " Kentish Troop," a company of cavalry of the 
county of Kent, R. I. This company consisted of young 



Home. School and Church. 29 

men, mostly the sons of the wealthy, and some of them 
approximating to what would now be called " fast." 

The year following I adopted a similar course, except 
that in September, 181 7, I was married to Miss Alma 
Stone, a young lady of an adjoining neighborhood, then 
in her eighteenth year. She was of the same original 
family, and my fourth cousin. For fifty-five years we 
have been the sharers of each other's joys, the consolers of 
each other's sorrows, and helpers together among the 
allotments and vicissitudes of the long life-course or- 
dained for us by a wise Providence. We have had nine 
children. One daughter only is in the spirit land, having 
given us here the parting hand, when forty -three years of 
age and the mother of five children. The other eight 
still survive ; are married, and all, we trust, working in 
the vineyard of their Lord. I shall have occasion to 
speak of them hereafter. We have reason to bless God 
for the degree of health and prosperity which has been 
bestowed upon us in the years gone by; and, above all, 
that by God's mercy we are cherishing the glorious hope, 
that after having finished the eventful journey of life, we 
shall meet amid those eternal scenes of beauty, and of 
bliss, which await the children of God in a brighter and 
a better world. 

The winter of my nineteenth year found me in a home 
about a mile from my father's, teaching our own school 
in the west section of our neighborhood. Before this I 
had been from home teaching in an adjoining town ; but 
now I had a home of my own ; I, myself, furnished the 
housekeeper, and stood at the head ot the establishment. 



30 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

I consequently sought and obtained a school at home, 
risking the danger, as some thought, of governing those 
young people who had been my former schoolmates. I 
succeeded well, however, in that respect, though less atten- 
tion was given to awakening moral sentiment, and more 
to arousing fear than is now adopted. The whip — the 
ferule was in requisition in all our schools. The plan I 
adopted was mostly an appeal to a sense of -duty— the 
importance of manly and womanly culture. I aimed to 
show up the future, polished by virtue, intelligence and 
love ; or, tarnished and blackened by ignorance and vice. 
Still the rod lay back as a last resort. The second year 
of my teaching that school, I punished a disobedient boy 
of ten or eleven years ; not very severely, but until he 
yielded and promised obedience. The next morning the 
grandfather and grandmother (he lived with his grand- 
father), with some half a score of uncles and aunts, made 
their appearance with the boy at the schoolhouse, and 
laid their case open before all assembled previous to my 
calling the school to order. The boy was examined, and 
not a scratch or a bruise could be found. I made a plain 
statement of the boy's disobedience, and the fact that I 
only required a promise of future obedience, and gave 
him not another blow when that was obtained. The 
grandfather was very passionate and abusive, but finally 
said he would settle the matter if I would give him one 
month's schooling, i. e., about one dollar. I replied : "I 
will not turn over my hand in acknowledgment of wrong. 
I have done what I would do again to-day in the same 
case of stubborn disobedience." He commenced in 



Home, School and Church. 31 

great anger to speak. I opened the door, told him he 
had been heard, that I had no time to waste, and he 
must leave the house, as it was fifteen minutes past the 
hour of commencing school. He was a man of some 
money, more will than money, and much less sound sense 
than either. When the Court of Common Pleas assembled 
some four weeks after, he, with his wife, his brother and 
wife, and three sons, went before the grand jury, told 
their story, and got a bill of indictment. About mid- 
winter the trial was to come off at the regular session of 
the Court of Common Pleas. I had taught some three 
months, and had nearly as long to teach ; this same man 
still sending to me his other children, four sons, ages 
varying from twelve to nineteen. I had a vacation that 
week of court, and the case was called/ The man him- 
self testified that there were no limbs broken, no skin 
broken, no bruise to be seen next morning, though he 
thought that evening, as he examined him by candle- 
light, he could see a slight discoloration. The balance 
of the testimony was no stronger; his own sons testified 
that I did not strike him after he promised obedience. I 
introduced some testimony as to the stubborn character 
of the boy. My witness, a nephew of the prosecutor, 
about thirty years of age, testified that about a month 
before the school commenced he was at work for his 
uncle, the prosecutor and grandfather; that this boy 
having done some flagrant mischief was seized by his 
grandfather exclaiming, now, I will whip the devil out of 
you ! His pants were stripped down, he was laid across 
his knees, and whipped several blows. The grandfather 



32 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

then said: " Is the devil out of you now?" " No, sir," 
was the prompt reply. Again the hand was smartly ap- 
plied, and again the same question asked, " Is the devil 
out of you now ? " The boy again replied as promptly, 
" No, sir." A third time he was whipped, and the same 
question asked, " Is the devil out of you now ? " And 
the third time came the prompt reply of the boy, " No, 
sir." " Well," said the grandfather, " button up your 
pants ; I believe you tell the truth." The question whether 
the teacher has a right to use corporeal punishment at all, 
i. e., punishment by whipping, was started by the lawyers, 
but the judge promptly decided, saying, " The same right 
existed as in the present." The jury without being out ten 
minutes promptly returned a verdict for acquittal. This 
man still gave me his patronage, continuing to send his 
other children both this year and the next ; for I taught 
that school for three successive years before leaving the 
State for Massachusetts. The result of that trial was 
effected in establishing the right of teachers to secure 
obedience even by corporeal punishment if necessary. 
The clamor in some ignorant families, that the teacher 
has no right to correct for disobedience, sent . their chil- 
dren into the school in a half defiant spirit, saying and 
half believing, " the teacher has no right to touch me." 
The position taken by the judges in this case was that 
the teacher of a school has the same right of correction 
as has the parent to secure obedience. 

The third year which found me in that school was a 
very important year in the history of my life. Up to this 
time Rhode Island bounded all my expectations. I had 



Home, School and Church. 33 

been previous to this only at Plainfield Academy, Con., 
fourteen miles from home, pursuing my studies, and on a 
short business tour in Massachusetts. I knew little of 
our American world, except by reading, and, as I had no 
brother, and but one sister, and she married to a large 
landholder and settled for life in the town of Coventry, 
and my father a large landholder, it never entered my 
mind that I should leave that place while I lived. My 
wife had a grandfather living in Worcester county, Mass., 
fifty miles from my home. A visit was planned, and, as 
myself and wife were about to start, my father said : 
" Richard, if you see a farm while you are gone that 
pleases you, and where you would like to live, I will go 
and buy it for you." It was unexpected. I was taken 
entirely by surprise ; but the kind offer accompanied me 
while on the visit to the relatives of my wife, opening my 
vision-sight with unusual interest, as I looked upon the 
farms of that region, fertile far beyond the lands of my 
own State and county. Our visit completed, one week 
from my return found me with my father looking over 
the farms for sale in that section of Worcester county. 
One was purchased, and the following spring found me 
nicely settled in my new home. 

I had but little expectation of continuing school- 
teaching in Massachusetts ; however, my leisure hours 
were devoted to reading and study, and I found the 
people generally better educated than those I had left. 
Among the new acquaintances which I was forming 
many understood history and science, and our conversa- 
tion not unfrequently took that turn. Judge of my sur- 
3 



34 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

prise when the School Supervisor offered me the village 
school term, about six months. He informed me that 
another man had applied for it, but for some reasons, I do 
not recollect what, he preferred me. I took a short time 
to consider, and accepted the proposal. The day was 
set for my examination ; I went before the committee, a 
Reverend, a Lawyer and a Merchant, about two o'clock, 
and continued the examination until nearly sunset. It 
was the first time I had been before a school committee, 
and I did not know but all examinations were as careful 
and as rigid. I was not troubled, however, nor agitated, 
nor confused, and they, without consultation, gave me a 
certificate of approbation. One of the gentlemen, then 
calling me aside, said : " Mr. Stone, I do not know but 
you are surprised at our giving you so thorough an ex- 
amination, but there is opposition to you. Some have 
said to us, ' Our Supervisor has hired a man from R. I. 
to teach our school ; we doubt his ability, and hope you 
will give him a thorough examination.' But, go ahead, 
you will have no difficulty." It has been said that as 
" frost unlocks the hard shells of seeds, and helps the 
germ to get free; so trouble develops in men the germs 
of force, patience, perseverance, ingenuity, and in noble 
natures " works the peaceable fruits of righteousness " — 
does really become a schoolmaster to those who are ex- 
ercised thereby. So the state of affairs in Charlton be- 
came to me. I had not understood before this the facts 
connected with the opposition, their breadth or depth, 
nor did I truly now ; it aroused me, but not to an- 
ger; it awakened energies, but not to indignation. I 



Home, School and Church. 35 

learned that those most opposed to me were the in- 
fluential and the best educated in the village ; those, too, 
whose children taking the highest position would be the 
leading element in school. I said nothing to any one 
upon the subject; made myself acquainted with the 
books used, and resolved to fearlessly, firmly and kindly 
do my duty. I commenced, and from then till now I 
never heard more of the opposition. More than this, I 
have the satisfaction of feeling that through my whole 
acquaintance with that people, they were governed by 
just views and a high sense of moral and educational 
duty. I taught the fall and winter school there three 
years, and when I opened a High School in Oxford, in 
the same county, quite a number from that vicinity placed 
their children, then young men and women, in my care. 
During my residence there many suggested to me the 
idea of opening a private school for instruction in the 
higher branches, but I was a farmer. My father expected 
me to care for, and manage, and work upon the farm, 
which he had with so much kindness purchased for me. 
I did so while he lived, continuing upon the farm, and 
teaching from four to six months yearly. 

In looking back to the years of my early married life, 
and before somewhat, it has afforded me a great satisfaction 
to remember the genial sympathy and entire agreement 
which existed between my. father and myself. I can not 
recollect of a single act of my life from the time I was 
sixteen to his death, when I was twenty -six, that gave 
him displeasure, or for which he reproved me ; and the 
same is true with respect to him. I was always satisfied 



36 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

with his course. This is the more singular from the fact 
that we were both of a nervous and positive tempera- 
ment — men of great decision of character. In my boy- 
hood days, as I have written, I was, from time to time, 
reproved. Three times, I recollect, smartly punished, 
but never after I was thirteen or fourteen ; nor did I ever 
know when I became of age, or really own any property 
till after the death of my father. He proposed, when I 
was seventeen, buying me a horse. I assure you I very 
readily consented, and from that time forward one horse 
was mine. What money I received for teaching, or for 
the produce of the farm, I handed over to him, and 
nothing more was said of the matter. Some one or two 
years before he died, he said to me one day, when with 
me in Worcester county, " Richard, you have been earn- 
ing money and handing it over to me for several years, 
and I have given you only the living of yourself and 
family, I think you had better write a note, and I will 
sign it." "For how much shall I write it, Father?" 
" Six hundred dollars." I did so, and he signed it. That 
was all which was ever said or done between us as to his 
property till on his death-bed. 

A few circumstances occurred before the death of my 
father, which had an influence on my after life, and which 
I will relate ; one especially, in bringing me before the 
people of Charlton. During, my second year in that 
town, a petition was gotten up to open what was then 
called a bridle-road, which crossed a portion of the farm 
on which I lived. " Bridle-road " meant a public way 
subject to gates or bars. There was no legal right for 



Home, School and Church. 37 

granting the petition, but it was brought before a town- 
meeting for action by vote. I did not wish to employ a 
lawyer, but it must be earnestly met, as the town action 
might save a lawsuit. I had not been much accustomed 
to public speaking. I was young, not quite twenty-four. 
True, I had spoken a little at the close of my school ex- 
aminations; I had taken part in several exhibitions, and 
acquitted myself well, as it was said; but to argue a point 
of law, and right before a town meeting, was quite another 
matter. My father advised me to do the best I could, 
and not employ a lawyer ; but he was off, I could not 
readily consult him. I looked forward with dread to the 
crisis ; but some six weeks before the town meeting I de- 
termined what I would do. I first informed myself as to 
the law ; looked to the former vote of the town, which 
clearly made it a road subject to gates and bars, and 
then wrote out in full the defense which I wished to 
make. This defense I committed to memory, and for a 
month or more carried it with me. Yes, I carried it in 
my pocket until I had almost worn it out. Never in all 
my life-efforts have I studied so carefully or taxed my 
memory so severely and critically as then. I felt assured 
that I was fully posted on my defence. The day at last 
arrived. The meeting organized, the first business was 
transacted, and in its proper time the petition was read. A 
few remarks were made ; a few inquiries were put ; when 
I stepped upon a pew seat (the meeting was held in a 
church), took off my hat and said : " Mr. Moderator," 
all eyes were turned on me. I tried to think of the 
opening words of my defense ; they were gone. I repeated 



38 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

again, " Mr. Moderator," but not a sentence could I 
bring to my mind of my written argument. It seemed 
to me I stood there in that ridiculous position ten min- 
utes without power to recall a word of what, in that 
moment, I so much needed. A feeling of anger rushed 
over me — anger at my own stupidity. I began my sub- 
ject, how I know not ; but I began, went on from point 
to point; the mists began to disappear, I became col- 
lected, and in a few minutes calm. The study and the 
composition— the words which I had written — helped 
me to grapple with the matters before me, and I closed, 
conscious that I had done the subject a good degree of 
justice. A vote was almost unanimously passed to give 
the petitioners leave to withdraw their petition. 

Our nation's " birthday " was memorialized by five 
towns in the vicinity uniting in its celebration ; that ar- 
rangement has been continued many years. The year of 
which I have spoken, I, with many others of the people 
of Charlton, met our friends from the adjoining towns at 
Oxford. An oration was delivered by a young man just 
from the University, since the Hon. I. M. Barton. The 
oration, the toasts, the remarks, the singing, the day in 
its general features of a " Fourth of July," passed off as 
well as usual, except the dinner ; which, for some cause, 
was a dissatisfaction — an inferior affair. This dissatisfac- 
tion, probably hightened by the stimulants of those days, 
resulted in some sportive and ironical remarks even at 
the table. An hour or more before the setting sun 
dropped behind the western hills, a short poem or song 
appeared in the crowd — was circulated from hand to 



Home, School and Church. 39 

hand — was read aloud to groups of earnest listeners, and 
soon sung amid the sportiveness of the evening with great 
satisfaction by several who had obtained copies. This song 
showed up the dinner in rather a sarcastic dress, and 
called forth the smile of humor even where it failed to 
gain the smile of approbation. Some inquiry was made 
as to the author ; none claimed it, and he who provided 
the " dinner," like a wise man, kept entirely quiet ; and 
when a few days had passed, and the dinner and the 
day were digested, the remembrance of both were alike 
dropped from the remembrance-roll of our glorious 
Fourth. 

Nearly two years passed away in much the same man- 
ner as before, except my increasing labors as a practical 
surveyor, arising from a few successful operations which 
I had accomplished. Gen. S. Town, an old citizen, and 
leading character in Charlton, advised me to prepare 
myself with good implements, saying, I could, by so 
doing, " secure most of the work in that part of the 
county." I did so, and an unexpected affair within the 
year brought me especially before the people of Charlton 
and Oxford. I was employed to trace some lines and 
establish a bound near the line of those two towns. Several 
persons belonging on either side of the two-named towns 
were present. The " boundary " for which we were to work 
was in an uncultivated swamp, no trace of which could 
be discovered. It must be found, if at all, by an inter- 
section of lines from some known boundaries, aided per- 
haps by measurement. To gain this object, I went some 
140 rods to an established corner, traced the line of di- 



40 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

rection a given distance into the swamp, but that " given 
distance " gave us nothing to satisfy the parties, or show 
us that the survey was right ; it might be right, or it 
might not. I then went to another established corner or 
boundary, about half a mile, nearly at right angles with 
the first, and traced that line with great care, making as 
before due allowance for the magnetic variation, until I 
came to an intersection of the first line. I there carefully 
noted the point as the true boundary by my survey. A 
stake being prepared, and on driving it into the soft 
land of the swamp it struck something hard. On exam- 
ination, the " old bound," consisting of four or five large 
stones sunk a foot or more below the surface, was ex- 
posed to view, to the great satisfaction of the land 
owners, and the confident establishment of the reputa- 
tion of the young surveyor. It was, indeed, accidental, 
after all. I could trace a line as accurately as most men, 
having a very clear vision, but no living man could pro- 
duce such a result as finding that bound in that swamp 
except by accident. A few years after this I was ap- 
pointed Justice of the Peace, mainly that I might exe- 
cute and complete the transfer of real estate, and the bus- 
iness in its various aspects incident thereto. This office 
was an appointment for seven years, and, being renewed, 
the fourteen years were not closed till the years of my 
early ministry. 

In the latter part of the same year a strong controversy 
arose in the town of Charlton relative to the purchase of 
the Old Congregational Meeting House for town purposes. 
Most of the " Centre folks" as they were called, wished 



Home, School and Church. 41 

to effect the sale and purchase; for then the society 
would build a new house, but the " outsiders " were 
opposed. I was in the opposition, living m the North 
village. The thing was agitated again and again. The 
party which opposed the purchase wished to build a new 
town-house, but were unwilling to buy the old church. 
During that summer a town-meeting was called, and a 
vote by a small majority, a little less than twenty, was 
gained for the purchase of the " old house." This vote, 
however, did not at all allay the excitement, and some 
two months later a petition was circulated and another 
meeting called to reconsider the former vote. Soon after 
the town warrant was posted up by the " official board," 
two of the principal men in our village, a justice of the 
peace, and our postmaster, called on me one afternoon, 
saying, they had consulted many of our friends, and had 
come to the unanimous conclusion that I must manage 
the " meeting-house case " at the coming " town-meet- 
ing." I objected on account of my age and inexperience 
in legal matters. I should be obliged to meet in full 
town-meeting, Davis, our lawyer, who was enlisted on 
the other side. I pleaded my confusion in the " Bridle- 
Road " case, and though I felt proud of the invitation, I 
trembled in view of the attempt. They urged their re- 
quest, assuring me it was that very " Bridle-Road case," 
and the clearness with which I made the points, that 
gave them confidence that I should now succeed ; that 
they would pay all expenses of my time taken, and the 
trip to Worcester, and consultation with an able lawyer 
on all matters connected with the subject. I finally con- 



42 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

sented, studied the subject, consulted Rejoice Newton, 
one of the most eminent lawyers of Worcester, made my 
points, and finally came to the afternoon conflict with 
more confidence than I had when my friends left me on 
the day of their request. The day of trial came. There 
was no other subject except that before the town. The 
warrant was read ; I made a very few remarks, and sat 
down. I was followed by Lawyer Davis in a speech of 
half an hour or more. I carefully noted his points and 
commenced my reply. The addresses continued till 
nearly night, we two alternately speaking. My friends 
assured me of their satisfaction, that I met the lawyer's 
argument with readiness, clearness and strength. A little 
before sunset the question was taken, and resulted in 
reconsidering the former vote by more than " thirty " 
majority. The excitement was such that I scarcely slept 
during the following night, I think no address that I 
ever made, before or since, produced such deep and long 
continued excitement. 

In the autumn of 1824 my father died, aged sixty-four. 
I had then lived in Massachusetts a little more than four 
years. The cause of his death was fever ; against which 
a good constitution, with careful medical attendance, was 
unable to prevail. He sent for me during the early part of 
his sickness, and I remained with him most of the time till 
he died, which was about two weeks. On my first arri- 
val he expressed his doubts of his recovery, wished me 
immediately to attend to some matters of business neces- 
sary to be arranged during his life; said he had made 
no disposition of his property, and as it was mostly real 



Home, School and Church. 43 

estate preferred to do so by deed, rather than by will, if 
it became settled that he should not recover. The vio- 
lence of his disease left us not long in doubt as to his 
recovery. On the third day of October he sent for his 
friend and distant relative, Asa Stone, Esq., who executed 
the papers transferring his real estate to my sister, and 
her two oldest sons, and to myself. He died the same 
evening, himself selecting the spot where his remains 
should rest, and the minister, Rev. Pardon Tillinghast, 
who should attend his funeral. It would have been 
gratifying to us if he had said more of his Savior, and of 
the spirit life into which he was about to enter, but he 
was calm and quiet, and had no fears of death. The 
last words which he uttered were, " Richard, be careful 
to form no bad habits." 

The closing up of the sad scenes at my old home, and 
my return to Massachusetts, without the counsellor of 
my former days, was a crisis in my life. I had thus far 
followed the wish and expectations of him who was now 
no more on earth ; and every child worthy of the name, 
who is blessed with such a living father as I had been, 
can have but little manly virtue or filial affection, and not 
consider it a sacred duty, even at a large personal sacri- 
fice, to consult the known wishes of that parent while 
living. Let me assure you, from the personal recol- 
lections of forty-nine years since my father passed away, 
that this remembrance, the genial sympathy between us, 
has sweetened every sorrow, and made every tear drop 
even to sparkle with joy. 

The effect of this change of condition on my mind was 



44 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

peculiar. I had hitherto owned no property, and yet 
had managed from the time I was seventeen or eighteen 
to twenty- six, almost as if it was all my own ; stepping 
out of one responsibility into another ; now selling a horse 
that did not suit me, or exchanging it for something 
else ; now selling a cow or a yoke of oxen, and now 
purchasing a wagon or a chaise. This living in Mas- 
sachusetts gave me a responsibility — tnrew me upon 
my own resources much more than I should have 
been had I remained near my father. Nor was this 
situation unfavorable, but in a degree prepared me for 
the condition into which I was now introduced. I 
soon decided the point, that I would prepare myself, 
and direct my mind to some different course of life. 
What should it be ? My family was to be supported — 
my property cared for, so that I [should not descend 
into, nor be turned toward the vale of poverty, and 
my own education improved. An opportunity in 
the neighborhood soon attracted my attention. The 
principal store, the House of Entertainment, and the 
Postoffice builings, through the death of one of the 
owners, was offered for sale at what was considered a 
low figure. The question came up before me : can I not 
see to, and overlook this business, while I teach school a 
portion of the year, and improve my mind and support 
my family ? I took some advice ; weighed the matter as 
I best could, not with accurate balances I assure you, as 
one year proved, but as I had let my farm to a good man 
for a number of years, I decided to do it. I soon entered 
upon this new life, but, a month's experience showed up 



Home, School and Church. 45 

my folly, and I would gladly have been relieved, if re- 
lief had been possible. I was as successful in the em- 
ployment of help as I had any reason to expect, was 
myself in school and in study some of the time, but I 
found scarcely a moment's time for literary thought or 
quiet study. I wondered then — I have not ceased to 
wonder since — at my extreme folly in not seeing the 
matter in its true light. With due caution I sought to 
change my situation. It is generally not an easy matter 
to dispose of four thousand dollars worth of buildings, 
and lands, and goods, in a country town of four thousand 
inhabitants ; and, in meditating upon my situation amid 
the sleepless darkness which now sometimes gathered 
around me, it did not seem as cheap as it did some six 
months before. Nay, it would look at times as ti I had 
really given a big price. I entered into trade with inter- 
est, and my success sometimes caused the thought to flit 
through my mind : " Hadn't you better go on with this 
business, and give up the idea of teaching, or any pro- 
fessional course ? " It was but a flitting thought, however, 
and never became established. 

There was connected with the premises a building of 
but little use where it stood. This I immediately moved 
upon a vacant lot, finished it into a dwelling, and sold it 
to a Frenchman of small means, carelessly taking his 
note for the amount without security. Three months 
passed away ; he did not pay as I expected, and worse, 
he was becoming indebted to another man, who asked 
me, rather carelessly one day, if I had any security on 
that property for what was unpaid. My suspicion was 



46 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

aroused that something more than curiosity had prompted 
the inquiry, and before I slept I placed the premises 
under attachment. Next morning, the owner, boiling 
over with anger, met me, and in broken English gave 
vent to his rage : " You snake ! You Indian ! You bite 
'fore you bark ! " I told him I wanted only what he 
owed me made secure on the property, which, if he would 
effect, I would wait any reasonable time, and pay all my 
own costs. His anger all passed away in a moment. 
With a smile, he exclaimed : " I vow, you good — you 
gen'rous." The matter was so settled. We remained 
friends, though I learned from him that my tears were 
not unfounded. 

The closing out of that year found me arranging to 
move to Oxford Springs, a summer resort of some note, 
though with little brilliant hope of the future. I ex- 
changed property, thereby reducing my outlay and stock 
nearly one-half; and also introducing me to a class of 
society more interested in education and the advance- 
ment of literature than those among whom I then was. 
Still, my position would be less favorable to trade and 
business ; but this, instead of an objection, I regarded as 
favorable. Moreover, the new place would be a far 
more desirable position as a surveyor and land convey- 
ancer than where I then was. I had also the offer of 
the school, with many assurances of patronage from 
others outside, which were fully realized. In my new 
situation horses and carriages, with board accommoda- 
tions, were requisite to success; and from these with 
proper management a living business could be realized. 



Home, School and Church. 47 

The work of one man, in the most busy season, of two 
men, were necessary to a proper attention outside. It 
was, after all, a place far from that quiet which is neces- 
sary to any proper success in study and teaching, but it 
was far better than my former location. 

As the school was not in operation in the late spring 
and summer, and having with me a young man unusually 
adapted to such a position, I gave more attention to 
study than I had for some years before. It was during 
this, my first year at Oxford, that I attended several lec- 
tures in historical geography, and also made the acquain- 
tance of Roswell C. Smith, author of an English grammar* 
on the productive plan, in botji of which I became deeply 
interested, and which was introduced into the Oxford 
schools, of which I had been elected Chairman of the 
Committee of Superintendence. 

For years I had had a desire to travel and see more of 
the world than my limited opportunities had permitted, 
and the presence of Thomas Rice, a young man who had 
been with me in Charlton, and was now with me in 
Oxford, to manage outside, and a judicious wife to do 
and direct inside, the way was opened for a short tour of 
travel now and then. 

My first visit was to Chester, Vermont, where my 
father had lived in the earlier years of his married life, 
and the first place where he purchased and cultivated a 
farm. He was by trade a carpenter, and one of the five 
sons of Samuel Stone, to all of whom that trade seemed 
a paternal inheritance, though to each boy it was only 
the stepping stone, as it was to grandfather Samuel to a 



48 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

good farm. My father sold his house in Providence, R. 
I., and about the year 1788 became one of the Green 
Mountain Boys, as he expected, for life. There he raised 
stock ; there he cut down the forest ; there he burned 
the big log heaps ; there he gathered the maple sap in 
the sugar orchard; there he occasionally shot a deer, 
and in one instance, a moose ; and there he frequently 
saw near his house the tracks of bears, and heard wolf 
howls away on the distant hills ; and there, too, the sad 
tale of sorrow and grief, the bitter tears of disappointment, 
the anguish of a father and mother bereaved of their only 
son, crushed by a rolling log, and his little grave in the 
cemetery of that far off mountain town, were interwoven 
in that history, and made part of the life-record of our 
family. All the events connected with that period and 
that place were stamped upon my childhood's memory, 
as the clear reminiscences of those days were, from time 
to time, related, and in all their detail repeated by a 
loving mother. Chester was a sacred spot — a part of 
the " old homestead," and the idea of looking upon that 
place where those life-scenes had been enacted, though 
sometimes distant, had never for a moment grown dim. 
In the absence of railroads and direct stage routes, I 
traversed with my own horse and buggy the hills of Mas- 
sachusetts and New Hampshire ; then, crossing the river 
at Brattleboro, made my way along the wild, western 
bank of the Connecticut to Bellows' Falls, and thence, 
turning westward twenty miles, I stood in the town 
where my father, mother and sister spent six years of 
their life. I visited the "old homestead;" passed up 



Home, School and Church. 49 

through the ravine where the moose was killed; went 
into and through the sugar orchard ; stood in tearful sad- 
ness upon, or near the spot where my brother was killed ; 
saw and visited a number of persons acquainted with my 
parents twenty-five years before ; walked with the man 
who directed my brother's funeral, to the cemetery ; read 
the inscription which parental love and conscious immor- 
tality erected at his grave, and then bade farewell, proba- 
bly forever, to those scenes which have not, and never 
will, fade trom my memory. 

I returned home conscious of the advantages which a 
relaxation from toil and care and the interesting visit to 
my parents' early home had afforded me. More than 
this, it was of great interest to my mother, as since my 
father's death she had been a permanent inmate in my 
house. 

Affairs with me at Oxford seemed to prosper. My 
school was a success ; but I was not at all satisfied, and I 
could hardly tell why. There was one element wanting 
in my character, and my responsibilities as a parent with 
a rising family, and my position as a teacher of the young, 
was beginning to press this matter home upon my mind 
with force ; but I attended to the duties before me with 
little or no change for the following year. 

In reviewing this year of my life, I can perceive that 
my interest in public school education, in general litera- 
ture, and in my own improvement, was increasing. 

During this season Prof. J. Holbrook was employed to 
give two courses of lectures on philosophy and chemistry, 
with experiments and illustrations, rendering those sci- 
4 



50 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

ences much more practical than anything with which I 
had been acquainted before I was interested — assisted 
in getting them up, and attended them every one. 

My residence was in the North manutacturing villages, 
four miles from the lecture room on " Oxford Plain." 
The courses of lectures were twenty-six ; two each week 
for three months. I was prompt in attendance ; teaching 
through the day, then, each evening riding eight miles, 
four each way, and on returning home sitting from two 
to four hours writing out the substance of the lecture to 
which I had listened. In my own school I had classes 
in both the sciences which were the basis of the lectures. 
Into these classes I introduced, as far as practicable, the 
principles which I had just learned. 

During the vacations of the present year I took a jour- 
ney in company with a friend through New Hampshire 
and Vermont to Stanstead, in Lower Canada. The tour 
occupied four or five weeks, and afforded us much inter- 
est as we skirted the gentle rolling Connecticut, now on the 
East, and now on the West, at a speed along that lovely 
valley of about five miles an hour. Here for miles ex- 
tended the most beautiful vales and verdant meadows ; 
farther on rose the green hills with their wild slopes and 
towering summits, bending, and rolling, and rising, almost 
to mountain peaks, while the cattle grazing on their wild 
hillsides seemed to us, in the distance, no larger in size 
than ordinary sheep. Far in the distance appeared a beau- 
tiful village with its church spires partially hidden among 
the hills ; still nearer, and directly before us, almost on 
the river's bank, yet raised above the rolling waters, 



Home, School and Church. 51 

stands " Old Hanover," rendered justly memorable by 
the intellectual wealth which its own seminary of learn- 
ing, Dartmouth College, has scattered over our land. 
Leaving the Connecticut river, on the banks of which we 
had travelled nearly 150 miles, or rather the river leaving 
us, as it bears away to the northeast, in search of its 
fountains, the little " Connecticut lake," just over the line 
in Canada; we still kept North up the Passumsic valley 
to St. Johnsburg, and crossing the eastern branch of the 
Green Mountains through Barton, Brownington and 
Derby, entered Lower Canada at Stanstead. We re- 
turned by nearly the same route. . 

Another year was approaching, and my friends in va- 
rious parts of the town unitedly urged me to come down 
into the centre of the town, on what was called the 
" Plain," and open a permanent classical school, thus 
affording an opportunity to nearly all the larger scholars 
in town to attend and board at home. Prof. Holbrook, also, 
whose lectures had been very extensively attended, as he 
had been with us three months, encouraged both them and 
me, and I rented my property, both land and boarding- 
house ; secured rooms, not at all convenient, but as best I 
could, and commenced a school of three terms yearly, 
fourteen weeks each, leaving ten weeks for vacations. 

The renting did not prove a success ; but, in the course 
of the year, I exchanged on favorable terms my property 
in the North of Oxford for a house in just the right place 
for the contemplated seminary on Oxford Plain. This 
property I fitted up to meet the wants of a large school ; 
two rooms some eighty feet in length by thirty-six in 



52 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

breadth, with the necessary apparatus for a school of 120 
scholars. The house also connected therewith I so en- 
larged and arranged as to accommodate some twelve 
boarders besides my own family. 

I had now no real estate but this, except the original 
farm in Charlton purchased by my father, and that was 
rented for a series of years to a reliable man, and gave 
me no care or trouble. 

I was now fairly released from the fetters with which I 
had so unwisely bound myself on the first year after my 
father's death. 



CHAPTER II. 

I have said that in view of my growing family of boys, 
and my responsibility as a father, and my increasing re- 
sponsibilities as a teacher of the young, I was not satis- 
fied. The full explanation of this matter will lead me to 
a brief review of my religious course and character from 
my early years. This review carries me back to the days 
of my childhood, which, indeed, presents to my mind a 
picture of surpassing interest. The attachment to the 
scenes of early life is, indeed, a phase of universal hu- 
manity, though possessed in different degrees. The savage, 
as he leaves the smoky wigwam, the uncultivated prairie, 
or the interminable forest of his native home, sees nothing 
in the splendid creations of art or in the luxuries of the 
highest civilization. They may for a moment awaken his 



Home, School and Church. 53 

curiosity, but he soon sighs for his wild, native home, and 
pines in sadness for those early pictures to him of sur- 
passing loveliness. When I call up before me the scenes 
of my earlier life, though not what I consider beautiful 
or picturesque in natural scenery, yet they are stamped 
in lovely remembrance on my soul. The school house 
with its surroundings of brooks, and hills, and valleys, 
the old church with its rude and unfurnished galleries, 
and its square pews — its music, the congregation rising 
and singing, as the reverend pastor lined off the hymn, 
though nearly seventy years since, thrills my soul as I write. 
Above all, the sacred retreat of home, where a mother's 
love and a father's wisdom put forth their energies to 
guide me in the path of honor, knowledge and useful- 
ness ; altogether they present a scene of loveliness, which 
I could not realize until the years of my childhood were 
passed, and mature age brought out their real existence. 
We sometimes see the religious course of that age se- 
verely censured, and its mistakes as often exaggerated. 
One writer of this class says : " When my nature sighed 
for freedom, and most demanded it, I was shut up in a 
parish school two-thirds of the year. At sundown each 
Saturday night all secular labors were brought to a sol- 
emn pause. Till the sunset of the next day we were not 
permitted to leave the house except to enter the church. 
In prayers, sermons, conversation and books, heaven was 
represented to us as an everlasting Sabbath." Awful! 
awful, indeed, was that age ! — to send a boy to school eight 
months in a year ! And then on Sunday to prevent his 
rambling excursions by river or in forest ; to direct him to 



54 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

church, and confine his reading to religious books — "His- 
tory of George Graceful," " The Easter Offering," the His- 
tories of Moses, and Abraham, and Joseph, and Elijah, and 
Jesus in the Bible : perhaps, The Shepherd of Salisbury 
Plain, and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress; this much abused 
boy, who complains of this religious age, went through all 
this. There were, indeed, many mistakes into which the 
fathers and mothers of the beginning of the present cen- 
tury fell ; but those of which this writer speaks were not 
among the number. The boy who complains of eight 
months' yearly instruction, I will engage, was a foolish 
boy ; and to complain of it, to write it out in after life, 
when nearly seventy years old, as a matter of complaint, 
shows us that his folly has not all departed from him. 
And then another complaint : " Heaven was symbolized 
by the Sabbath." So it was; but does not Paul say, 
Heb. iv. 9, " There remaineth a rest for the people of 
God." (The word " Sabbath," in Hebrew, is synony- 
mous with "rest," in English.) Rest is one condition of 
the redeemed in heaven. " Another is," says Dr. Low- 
man's Paraphrase of Revelations, published in London, 
1745, " That persons of every rank and quality in this 
happy state shall be collected together, and severally con- 
tribute to complete the public happiness." Old Dr. 
Beecher instructed the young men in his care that they 
need not expect a heaven where, " in listless idleness, 
they would repose beside purling brooks listening to de- 
licious music, but a heaven of active love and ceaseless 
energy." The views which I am considering are a mis- 
representation of the Church seventy years ago. Narrow 



Home, School and Church. 55 

minds, influenced by still more limited views, may have, 
and probably did, err; but the general views of the 
Church were with St. Paul, and Drs. Lowman and 
Beecher, as I have quoted, at that time. 

Children everywhere need the ministries of a true, 
hopeful, cheering Christianity. A Christianity which 
shall bind them to their Heavenly Father by the ties of a 
supreme, absorbing love, and establish a confidence in 
the Most High. To this end let the grand idea of Paul 
stand out before them : " He that hath not the spirit of 
Christ is none of his." That wickedness will, by neces- 
sity, as surely separate them from Christ as holiness will 
unite them to him ; that the same law which, by obedi- 
ence, is pleasant, and makes them happy ; by disobedi- 
ence, is unpleasant, and renders them unhappy ; that they 
are responsible to a loving Savior who has done all in his 
power, without taking away their responsibility, to make 
them happy. 

My earliest recollections almost were impressed with 
the idea of God. At five years old I read Parnell's his- 
tory of the Hermit and the Angel, in prose, and understood 
it to be a representation of God's dealings with man. At 
six I read with admiration the history of Joseph abridged. 
At eight I read the same history of the Hermit and the 
Angel in Parnell's beautiful poem, and also I read Bun- 
yan's Pilgrim's Progress, and understood it to be an alle- 
gory of the Christian in his varied life experiences ; and 
even in these, my boyhood days, I had a firm though 
not a very intelligent view of immortal life. In these 
same early years I read and learned a short poem on the 



56 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

tolling of a bell. Two stanzas especially impressed my 
mind: 

" Well, let my Sovereign, if he please, 

Lock up his marvelous decrees ; 

Why should I wish him to reveal 

What he thinks proper to conceal. 

It is enough that I believe 

Heaven's brighter than I can conceive ; 

And he that makes it all his care 

To serve God here shall see him there." 

Not only in my boyhood meditation, but in my manhood 
days, I have repeated to myself the above lines as a 
quietus to an unrest of spirit when pondering upon the 
mysteries of the unknown future. 

When about six years old I commenced a steady Sab- 
bath attendance upon public worship, and was much 
impressed with the value and importance of the work of 
the ministry ; and although the Sabbath was not strictly 
observed in the neighborhood, yet for twelve years I was 
very constant at church, and felt assured in my earliest 
days that I in manhood should be a preacher. This 
idea, in fact, became a fixture in my mind, and often I 
went alone, named a text, and preached to the rocks and 
trees in the valley beside the river near my home. On 
one occasion when I was holding forth, as I supposed, to 
that wild and silent audience, I cast my eyes a little in 
the rear. Imagine my surprise and mortification at be- 
holding one of our neighbors quietly seated within twenty 
feet of my rock pulpit, and listening to the words of my 
discourse. My sermon closed very soon, I assure you, 



Home, School and Church. 57 

and I was prostrated, my face downward, on the ground. 
The kind friend came to me, endeavored to soothe my 
troubled mind, assured me I had done nothing wrong, 
and saying I should yet become a minister, and preach 
to an audience of men and women. The denomination 
where I usually attended church was Calvinist Baptist, 
quite exclusive in their views and Hopkinsian in their 
creed. These ideas were not in my earlier life satisfactory ; 
but our preacher was a good man, and I was strongly 
impressed with the idea of God's abilities to save as many, 
or as few as he chose, consistent with strict justice and 
man's moral agency, although I could not understand 
how. 

In these views without much difficulty 1 passed on, 
but when I was about thirteen a controversy arose rela- 
tive to the doctrine of Election, and denominational ex- 
clusiveness. A preacher came among us who declared 
his intention, not only of taking down the bars between 
the Christian sects, but of pulling up the bar-posts. He 
was a man of talents, of winning address, and quite a 
pulpit orator, but withal enthusiastic and visionary. Our 
family was won over. My father was interested. Bro. 
Hawkins, and my sister, and my mother, and myself, 
united with the Church, and were baptized by immersion. 
That mode of baptism was almost the only form known 
and practiced in the country towns in Rhode Island. 
All were Baptists of some kind. There were' the Seventh- 
day Baptists, the Six Principle or Old Baptists, the Five 
Principle or Calvinist Baptists, the Free Will Baptists, the 
Christian Baptists, and if there were any Methodists, they 



58 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

were generally baptized by immersion in those days. I 
recollect an old Methodist minister once said while bap- 
tizing some candidates by imme rsion, that he had no ob- 
jection to a person's going into the water if they would 
come out again. " Some," he said, " went into the water, 
and there stayed, forcing every one to come into the 
water to them, if they took their hand in Christian fellow- 
ship." With this Christian Baptist Church I remained 
about four years, its character becoming more and more 
wild and enthusiastic. Many of them, with their minis- 
ter, becoming lost in a good degree to the decencies and 
refinements of life; e. g., in their meetings for prayer at 
private houses nearly half would lie or sit upon the floor. 
I wrote the Church a letter of withdrawal, when between 
seventeen and eighteen years of age, and Bro. Hawkins, 
with nearly half the membership, withdrew, and organ- 
ized another Church, which still continues in existence. 
A few lost their religious interest, while nearly half, in- 
cluding the minister and most of the wild enthusiasts, 
removed to some portion of the State of Ohio, entering 
into a condition of socialism, on what basis I have never 
learned. 

The course of that Church had an unfavorable effect 
upon me, and on many others, though much of that pe- 
riod I was at school or teaching, and away from the 
immediate vicinity. 

When about eighteen years old, having just left the 
connection of this Church, the writings of Elhanan Win- 
chester, an author of much strength, were put into my 
hands. Winchester was first a Baptist preacher of New- 



Home, School and Church. 59 

ton, Mass. Afterward he embraced the doctrine of the 
Universal Restoration ; was settled in Philadelphia, and 
died in 1797. He .was a man of piety and virtue, and, 
judging by his writings, lost none of those qualities on 
his change of faith ; though his book was to me a step- 
ping stone to another phase of Universalism, which re- 
tained little of the excellencies and love of holiness which 
I found in "Winchester's Dialogues." I set myself to 
examine and determine how far Universalism is taught 
in the Scriptures, and for four years especially I spent 
many hours studying and committing to memory the 
main supporting texts for and against the doctrine, and 
in making myself familiar with the logical and analogi- 
cal reasoning of those receiving the " Doctrine of Uni- 
versal Restoration," and of those believing in the endless 
consequences of sin. 

In doing this, I tried to make myself believe that I 
was really searching for truth, though now and then the 
thought would more than flash upon my mind that I was 
really studying to sustain the one, and overthrow the 
other. In this condition of mind I left my native State, 
and removed to Massachusetts where I became per- 
sonally acquainted with the leaders of radical Univer- 
salism, which was supported by preaching a portion of 
the time in the town where I lived. 

Soon I considered myself established m the doctrine of 
no future punishment ; and yet, when I looked that doc- 
trine full in the face, in the same picture I always discov- 
ered the features of infidelity clearly and unmistakably 
delineated. It did not quite satisfy me. In this state of 



60 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

disquiet I passed several years. I recollect on one oc- 
casion when talking with a man whom I knew to be my 
friend, one who had done much to secure for me a favor- 
able position, and aid me as a teacher, that I brought 
out the grand idea of Universalism — that " sin brings 
with it, in this life, its just reward ; that the deeper a man 
sinned the more he suffered." " Now," said my friend, 
" let us look at that statement. Is it so ? Candidly, is 
it so ? Do you not know that a person grows the more 
callous to suffering the more he sins ? I am acquainted 
with one who was a young man with me. He has never 
married, but has become a confirmed libertine; has 
ruined several virtuous young women. I met him a few 
weeks since, and had a conversation with him. I in- 
quired, how do you feel in view of the misery and ruin 
which you have caused ? ' Why,' said he, ' to tell you 
the truth, I used to be grieved and sad in view of it, but 
that is all nonsense ; I have got over that long ago ; I 
now seek my own enjoyment, and let each one take care 
of himself.' " This conversation led me to thought, to 
serious meditation upon these views and facts. I recol- 
lected reading in my boyhood days the dying confessions 
of Thomas Mount, who was executed for robbery and 
murder, I think, on Littlerest Hill, R. I. His first act 
of theft was stealing a bone pin-box from a schoolmate 
when a child ; and that act of theft gave him more sad- 
ness, more presence of conscious guilt, than highway 
robbery or even murder in the later days of his sinful life. 
These facts, united with my knowledge of sinful hu- 
manity, led me to the conclusion, against my wish to the 



Home, School and Church. 6i 

contrary, that the grand position of Universalism, " the 
greater the sin, the greater the suffering of conscious 
guilt, was not true ; that it is a dangerous fallacy. The 
testimony of good men so held it up before me, the tes- 
timony of bad men so held it up before me v the history 
of the world so held it up before me, my own knowledge 
and experience so held it up before me ; and these rea- 
sonings, meditations and conclusions wrote the words : 
" You are wrong," upon my understanding as plainly as 
if pencilled in letters of fire upon the evening sky. I now 
saw clearly my failure in the family as a father, and be- 
fore the young placed under my care as a teacher. True, 
I was honest and upright amongst men, but God came 
in for no share in my thoughts, my acts, or my instruc- 
tions. I resolved at once to change my course, sought 
God's blessing and forgiveness, and commenced prayer 
in my family and in my school. In these changes I was 
cautious to make no display, no noise before the world, 
but plainly gave my reasons to any who spoke to me 
upon the subject. I united with the Church, and aimed 
to walk quietly in the paths of Christian duty. My 
views, in the course of the year, became settled on very 
nearly the same basis as now on all important points af- 
fecting practical duty; although the philosophy of the 
plan of salvation, and the nature of a future existence, 
are very much more clear, as light from various sources 
has beamed in upon my path. 

Another circumstance connected with my early history 
in Oxford I will now relate. I have before spoken of 
my enlistment in a company of horse in Rhode Island 



62 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

called the "Kentish Troop." It was a fine company of 
sixty or seventy, belonging in Kent county, whose duty it 
was to escort the Brigadier and Major-General and the 
Governor of the State when he attended the military re- 
views. In that company I was commissioned cornet, or 
" ensign bearer," with the brevet rank of captain, when I 
was twenty years old. This commission did not dis- 
charge me from military duty when a citizen of Massa- 
chusetts, and hence I was enrolled when I moved to 
Oxford. The second year after my removal to that town I 
was chosen captain of the old company of militia, number- 
ing in all about 140, and subsequently, within the two suc- 
ceeding years, I was elected colonel of the Fifth Regiment 
ot Massachusetts Militia, to which the military companies 
of Oxford belonged. The year following, through some 
change in the military arrangements of the State, our regi- 
ment was disbanded, and we were all honorably discharged. 
Thus about the opening of the ' 'Oxford Classical School " 
the military career of its principal was fully closed. 

It was customary in those days for the men to treat 
their officers to an early morning call on the days of their 
exercises and reviews. Ten, twenty, thirty, more or less, 
would come, as the day lighted up the East, and fire by 
the officers' door a military salute. This, by necessity, 
called out the officers with refreshments. The breafast, 
the crackers, the biscuit, served a good and useful pur- 
pose ; but the bitters, the rum, the gin, the brandy, of all 
which a free use was made, oftentimes led to difficulties, 
disorders, and more or less arrests. It occurred to me 
that the custom should be changed. 



Home, School and Church. 63 

One year passed after I was elected captain. I care- 
fully noted the troubles of various kinds attendant on this 
custom of olden times; and at the commencement of the 
second year of my command of the old company, I formed 
them, 120 in number being present, into a hollow square, 
and made my first address on the subject of temperance, 
somewhat as follows : "Fellow soldiers, my ac quaintance 
with the customs of our country in general, and Oxford 
in particular, has impressed me with the import ance of a 
change in what are termed military salutes, and military 
treats between officers and soldiers. As officers, we are 
always happy to see you ; but the free customs of the days 
of military drill and review oftentimes pain us. More or less 
of the soldiers, and on our muster-day some of the officers, 
are really unfit for duty. Some are obliged to be taken 
away from the ranks — four of our number last muster- 
day. The foundation of this is almost always laid by the 
excessive drams swallowed by some generous, noble, good- 
hearted fellow at the home of some of his officers, whom 
he visited and saluted at early morn. Need I argue .this 
point with the young men of Oxford. These evils are 
before you. They speak for themselves more loudly and 
more clearly than I can present their claims. It subjects 
a portion to arrest and disgrace. Seven during the last 
year. Four on muster-day and three on days of drill. 
The custom prevents the election of the best men to 
office. It costs much, and oftentimes the most able men 
can not afford it, and consequently refuse to accept. It 
is a disgrace to the company. One man sneeringly said 
of last muster-day, ' The old company had to put four of 



64 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

their men under guard.' Will you subject yourselves to 
such sneers as this ? I do not wish to get clear of the 
expense while I am one of your officers, but I wish you 
unanimously to clear the old company of this disgrace. 
I will expend as much for powder to fire on our days of 
drill and exercise, as I have expended for refreshments 
while I am your captain ; but I ask you to free your 
officers in future from this demoralizing expense, and 
yourselves from the disgrace. All in favor of abolishing 
this pernicious custom will ' shoulder arms;' 116 guns 
came to the shoulder, four remained still. I assure you 
it was a proud day for me, and I believe it was for them. 
The same year we brought the subject before the brigade 
officers, the Brigadier-General presiding, and the aboli- 
tion of the practice was unanimously carried, though it 
was two or three years before any temperance society 
was formed in the county. 

My permanent yearly school at Oxford dates from 
March, 1827, and continued for a little more than seven 
years. The yearly term, forty-two weeks; the yearly 
vacation, ten weeks; weekly sessions, five days. In con- 
nection with this, I had done before, and still continued 
to do, an extensive business as a practical surveyor, 
referee, appraiser, and land conveyancer, working most 
of the Saturdays, often doing a morning's job before 
school, and generally being engaged beforehand for the 
work of from twenty to forty days during the school vaca- 
tion by special arrangement. 

The second year my new school rooms were com- 
pleted, and from that time forward I employed one or 



Home, School and Church. 65 

more assistants. During my first year I realized just 
what I had expected would follow — a gathering of those 
which my previous education but poorly enabled me to 
teach. I was not, however, discouraged, but nerved for 
the work before me. My course had been to teach 
thoroughly whatever I attempted. Shams of every shape 
I held in abhorrence, but the branches taught in the best 
Public Schools of that age, fifty years ago, were about all 
which I had as yet attempted. Since my removal to 
Oxford, in the year 1825, I had introduced the practical 
of grammar, in rhetoric and composition ; the rudiments 
ol chemistry and natural philosophy ; the elementary prin- 
ciples of geometry, trigonometry and historical geography. 
These I had introduced in the first two years ; but 
now algebra, the Latin and Greek classics, and theoreti- 
cal, if not practical, geology was to be added. In some 
of these studies I was very deficient. Fortunately, no 
Greek class this year offered itself for instruction ; and a 
Latin class, who wished to read Virgil or Cicero, I re- 
commended to defer for a term or two, and make them- 
selves familiar with the higher branches in mathematics. 
To this they very readily and cheerfully consented, fol- 
lowing the rectangular calculation of " Flint and Gibson," 
or the poW and lunar lines of " Blunt," rather than shiv- 
ering before the crushing appeal to Caius Verres by 
Cicero, or melting in tenderness as the love-sick Dido 
falls in the agony of death by her own hand on her own 
funeral pile. 

Previous to the first vacation of the summer months, I 
wrote to a friend of mine, R. C. Smith, to send me a 
5 



66 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

young man well skilled in algebra to stop with me for a 
time and aid me in that study. The young man arrived, 
but could stay only a few days. I took Day's Algebra 
in course, and in eight days and nights completed the 
work, writing down results, and writing out explanations 
wherever they were difficult or clouded. I had previous 
to this availed myself of the occasional aid of a spare 
hour now and then with a young friend, a graduate of 
Brown University, in the study of the Latin classics, in- 
somuch that in the spring of 1828 I commenced with the 
class, of which i before spoke, in the translation of the 
" ^Enead of Virgil." 

The next opening term, about the first of September, 
and through the third year, I employed a young man by 
the name of Joseph H. Gallup as assistant. He was a very 
singular genius; but, as a scholar, just what I needed to 
aid me in the studies which my position demanded. He 
was a graduate of Yale College, entering that university 
in the junior class, i. e., two years in advance. As a 
classical scholar and mathematician I have never met his 
equal, and yet, through absence of mind, entirely unfitted 
to manage a school ; or, in fact, as I judge, any other 
business. His abstraction was such that frequently when 
at his meals he would stop eating, until, by some word, 
recalled to his beef or his pudding. I could not leave him 
with a class to hear a recitation unless when I could ob- 
serve his progress For five or six minutes he would go 
on well, teaching very effectively; then, all at once, stop, 
and sit in lone meditation. The winking, nodding, 
touching, smiling of the class to each other for minutes, 



Home, School and Church. 67 

would not arouse him. From such abstractions I would 
recall him by, " Mr. Gallup, have you closed that recita- 
tion ?" " O, no, sir." Then he would go on again. 
This state of mind interfered with his whole life-work. 
Unless recalled to the specific object before him, he 
would be hours in performing ten minutes' work. On 
one occasion at my house, when shaving himself, he was 
from curiosity let entirely alone. He commenced at 
nine a. m., and completed the job at eleven the same 
forenoon. He was a fine musician, and played the flute 
as an accompaniment to the bass viol at our church 
service. On one Sabbath morn, after the hymn was 
closed, and the whole choir had sat down, he stood up 
alone, and played the whole tune through on his flute, 
the audience exchanging glances and smiling all over 
the house. Notwithstanding his many peculiarities, he 
was a genial companion, not in the least pedantic, keen 
at repartee, though frequently exciting laughter by the 
disjointed incongruities of his remarks on common sub- 
jects ; yet never disturbed, and often joining in the laugh 
occasioned by himself. His aptness in punning may be 
seen by the following: A boarding-house was kept by a 
Mr. Parish. A nervous young lady boarder's name was 
Pattridge. A young man, a boarder, of uncomfortable, 
teasing qualities, was named Lyon. My assistant's name 
was Gallup. Lyon almost continuously at meals brought 
his inexhaustible fund of jest and raillery to bear on the 
fellow boarders, and especially on Miss Pattridge, who 
was easily disturbed and annoyed. On one occasion, 
when the nervous excitement of the young lady had be- 



68 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

come painful, Gallup stopped eating, laid down his knife 
and fork, saying : " If this Lyon (lion) continues to cause 
the flutter of our Pattridge (partridge) I shall set out into 
a Gallup (gallop) and leave the Parish." As a scholar, 
on most subjects connected with the literature of the age, 
Mr. Gallup commanded the respect of all who knew him. 
In the classics, his memory and knowledge were aston- 
ishing. There is scarcely a remarkable incident of any 
description connected with a fact, a plan, an individual, 
or a difficult sentence to render into English in the " Iliad 
of Homer," or the " ^Enead of Virgil," to which he could 
not from memoiy direct you. In mathematics, by mental 
calculation, he could navigate a vessel from Boston to any 
part of the Gulf of Mexico with but little variation, and he 
felt confident he should, by a little more mental exercise, 
be able to calculate the latitude and departure connected 
with field surveying, and throw aside the decimal tables 
then in use. Mr. Gallup was then about twenty-five years 
old ; had been since his graduation assistant in several acad- 
emies and high schools, but, as might be expected, with 
not very marked success. He lacked a well balanced 
mind, joined to executive ability ; but he could do for 
me— just what would help me do for the classical portion 
of my school. I made his acquaintance while he was 
assistant at Brooklyn Academy, Windham county, Con., 
and he came to Oxford, an inmate in my family, at the 
opening of the second academic year in my new school 
rooms. 

For more than a year previous to this I had adopted 
a plan of direct preparation for every lesson taught in 



Home, School and Church. 69 

the higher branches. Hence my whole time, morning 
and evening, during the school days was devoted to 
study, and thus each lesson in natural philosophy, chem- 
istry, geometry, rhetoric, algebra and Latin came fresh 
from the best thoughts and clearest illustrations of the 
authors used and consulted. For more than four years 
I pursued this course of especial study for the next day's 
recitations, rarely leaving to retire for rest till after eleven 
o'clock p. m., and then with my mind so occupied with 
the subject to which it had been devoted that it was still 
held in activity for two hours longer; so that almost every 
night I heard our manufactory watch-bell strike the hour 
of twelve or one before I fell asleep. 

Immediately on Gallup's arrival I commenced the 
study of the Greek language, and on opening the school 
a class was formed, and a translation of the rudimentary 
books with a thorough grammatical course begun. Of 
this class I heard the recitations. This forced upon me 
a necessity to study even more than before. I still taught 
the Latin classics, and one study in higher mathematics, 
giving Mr. Gallup, and a young lady assistant, the lower 
class and the common branches. I have often looked 
back to that year with wonder ; but my health was good, 
and by God's blessing I went safely through, although 
my eyes are now paying up the old discounts of that 
period of my life in granulated lids and general weak- 
ness. After one term the Greek class translated from 
the New Testament and Jacob's Greek Reader. 

It was soon after that I commenced making a literal 
translation of that " Reader," and writing it in the order 



70 Life-Incidents of R. C, Stone. 

of the Greek text in a blank book which I had prepared 
and bound for that purpose. This was a work of much 
labor, as Jacob's Greek Reader contained much from 
Xenophon's Anabasis, Homer's Iliad and many other 
authors, and is a work of great classical merit. I did not 
complete this translation until 1832, nearly three years. 
This, the first year of Greek study, was the most laborious 
year of my life ; but every year of the seven was a year 
of close application, though I can say the toil was met 
with cheerfulness. Success had attended my efforts. 
My Oxford friends, who first encouraged me, and the 
people generally were my warm friends. My pupils were 
from every State but one (Vermont) in New England, 
and as Normal Schools had not then been born, the 
Oxford High School resolved itself into a seminary some- 
what of that character. During the last four years about 
thirty young persons yearly went out from us as teachers ; 
the school varying from sixty to one hundred, a large 
portion of them young men and young women. 

One other point. I have never encouraged, asked, or 
urged parents to take their children from the common 
schools and send them to me. Some did this, sending 
in their whole families of children. My advice was to 
avail themselves of the Public School, and as soon as 
they had mastered the common school studies, complete 
their education by a more advanced course of study in 
the High School. This was followed in a good degree by 
all classes, and I can say with satisfaction, that no one 
was ever refused admittance on account of a want of 
means. 



Home, School and Church. 71 

During the last four years I gave a yearly course of lec- 
tures to those who were intending to teach Public Schools 
the coming year, directing their minds to those duties, 
difficulties and responsibilities which they would be likely 
to meet. It is highly desirable to every patriot, philan- 
thropist and Christian, that these engines of social happi- 
ness and political security, our Public Schools, may be 
made as efficacious and complete as the resources of our 
wealth and intelligence will permit ; and this can be best 
effected by earnest personal efforts, joined with a high, 
clear, conscious responsibility. Whoever engages in this 
work desires, and ought to desire, personal success. 
Upon that success, in a good degree, depends their hap- 
piness and their usefulness ; but there is another and 
a more elevated aim which should influence the mind 
and ever stand out 'in bold relief before it. This is the 
moral and intellectual improvement of humanity ; and 
few, indeed, who have failed to catch a glimpse ot the 
" true teacher's aim " have ever succeeded in securing 
their own success. God has wisely united the personal 
success of the teacher with a clear view of the intellec- 
tual development and moral improvement of those under 
the teacher's care. What God has joined together it is 
difficult for man to put asunder. Hence the man or 
the woman who teaches only for the money they receive, 
generally make a failure The basis of our institutions 
rests with and pertains to the citizens themselves, and 
hence a sacred duty is binding on the individual citizen 
in such a community as ours. We live, and study, and 
teach, to fit men to live among men. Separated from a 



72 Life-Incidents of R, C. Stone. 

community, isolated, man is a naked, untaught savage. 
What makes man of any worth in earth or heaven is the 
capacity and possibility of combination. The institutions 
tending to this object lead him to a recognition of mu- 
tual rights, whereby he ascends to a higher plane, under- 
stands his wants, necessities and capacities, and thus he 
becomes what we term " educated." The beginning of 
this is effected in the family ; the next in the school ; and 
the third in the State. In the family the child learns the 
meaning of "you must" and u you must not." From the 
first tender, but firm expressions of a mother's love, the 
child gains the first incipient elements of self-control and 
responsibility. This culture, strengthening with the con- 
scious responsibilty of childhood, forms a basis of a fur- 
ther development in the school. There the sphere is 
enlarged ; there the individuality of youth expands ; 
there he learns a further combination with his fellows; 
there he gains a self-control, checking his animal im- 
pulses, and calling out generous affections, co-operating 
and combining with the circle in which he moves; and 
there he learns the beauty of doing unto others as he 
wishes them to do unto him. Leaving the earlier and 
tenderer lessons of life, the young are now under a teach- 
er's care. They ask for, and demand success. Not only 
the children, but the community, ask for teachers, suc- 
cessful both in the moral order and the mental culture of 
the school. 

Most of the instances of failure that have come under 
my observation are the results of the ignorance of cor- 
rect principles upon the science of education. Some fail 



Home, School and Church. 73 

from a natural incapacity to communicate or to govern. 
There is in the presence of some, the expression, the 
look, the tone of voice, the walk across the floor; in 
fact, I can not describe what; but there is something 
which governs a school, and reduces everything to order 
and harmony. In some few this is a natural tact ; in a 
few others it is entirely wanting. The largest class by 
far, however, are those who may become by proper care 
and judicious instruction useful teachers. This education 
of teachers, as such, in my early days was almost en- 
tirely neglected, and for the want of this especial mental 
development many, by no means deficient in intellect or 
literary attainments, were miserable instructors. Among 
the subjects of my evening lectures brought before this 
class of young persons, about to enter some thirty school 
houses, and preside over and direct some fifteen hundred 
children, was, " Strict, moral virtue in the teacher, united 
to a capacity to understand the character of the school 
individually." An ancient philosopher once said : " Boys 
ought to be taught that which they will most need to 
practice when they become men." This is true. Kind- 
ness, truth, love, honesty ; to cultivate virtuous princi- 
ples ; to excite a sense of duty to God, and love to our 
fellows. If the teacher has no regard, or oversight over 
his scholars, except what is connected with obedience 
and correct lessons — if he allow vulgarity, profanity, 
lying, and other crimes and transgressions of the moral 
law to pass unnoticed, he is doing an injury to those 
children for which he can never make amends. 

Another subject important in the character of a teacher 



74 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

is an even temper. A lack of this trait of character sub- 
jects one to great inconvenience. The teacher is placed 
in a position where every act will be observed, and his 
authority is in constant exercise. He whose temper is 
constantly changing fails to make a proper estimate of 
things as they present themselves before him ; and when 
a morning's exactions relax into an evening's indulgence; 
or, what appears right, and is allowed one hour, appears 
wrong, and is reproved the next. It is impossible for 
any teacher pursuing such a course to gain and preserve 
respect among his pupils. 

Another point : a teacher of children should love chil- 
dren ; be affectionate. I once said in a lecture : " In 
order to succeed you must make the children believe 
that you love them." At the close, one of the young 
men said : " Mr. Stone, I wish to ask you one question." 
I replied, " Do so ; I will answer if I can." He said : 
" How shall we make the children believe that we love 
them ? " I hesitated a moment, then answered : " Cul- 
tivate within your souls the spirit of love ; in other words, 
love them, and they will be very sure to find it out." 
The human heart is so constituted that it naturally yields 
to the influence of kindness ; and this, exhibited by 
actions, as well as words, will not fail to excite the same 
in the children who are brought under its power. The 
love of children is an important element in a teacher to 
insure success, and I would recommend some other em- 
ployment to those who do not possess and can not gain 
this God-designed elevation. 

Other important elements necessary to success are a 



Home, School and Church. 75 

discrimination of character. All the various shades of 
disposition and capacity should be quickly understood 
by the teacher, that he may adapt his instructions to 
benefit each one severally, and leave no one wholly or 
partially untaught. The teacher who considers all alike 
does for one just what he does for another — fails to know 
his duty, and will do injustice to many. 

Another trait in the character necessary to success in 
teaching is common sense. Every day has occasion for its 
exercise. Persons by no means deficient in intellect often 
fail in this. A person may have refined sense, artistic 
sense, poetic sense, astronomical sense, geological sense, 
and yet fail essentially in common sense, or the faculty 
of seeing all things as they are in their true relation in 
the common affairs of life. These are a few of the topics 
brought out and discussed in the lecture room on that 
great feature of American life and prosperity, our Com- 
mon Schools. 

One of the monthly exercises of the more mature por- 
tion of the youg men and women connected with the 
school was the discussion by the young men of some de- 
batable subject by written communication, the school 
being divided equally, and, as much as possible, by their 
own selection of subjects. These written discussions 
were first submitted to the teachers for private criticism 
and correction, and then read before the school, the 
young ladies listening, and in the meantime taking notes ; 
and the week following handing in the results of their 
criticisms, examinations and decisions as to the ability 
and success of the discussion to which they had listened, 



76 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

which criticisms and decisions were read before the whole 
school. This, as a whole, was an exercise of great 
interest. 

During the first years of the school I was assisted by- 
Mary Campbell, Sophia Harrington and Mary Board- 
man; and, after the closing year of J. H. Gallup, by 
Miss Eliza Whittemore, an excellent mathematical and 
Latin scholar, and admirably adapted to the position 
which she so long occupied with honor and usefulness. 
She remained till I left the school and entered the min- 
istry ; and then became the assistant of my successor. 
Miss Harriet Waterman also rendered valuable assistance 
during the later years of my school. She was a pupil 
studying and working her way onward in the accomplish- 
ment of a thorough education, which she, with honor to 
herself, and much aid to me, nobly secured. 

The celebration of our nation's birthday by five towns 
I have mentioned in my earlier history — it still continued 
up to the time ot which I am now writing — and the last 
year but two of my teaching in Oxford I was selected to 
deliver the oration. I consulted I. M. Barton, Esq., a 
lawyer in Oxford, late Judge Barton, of Worcester, de- 
ceased, one of the committee ; and stated to him that I 
felt unequal to the position, and a hesitancy in accepting 
the invitation in precedence of all the lawyers and states- 
men in the circle of our towns. " Why," said he, "you 
are in the habit of talking in public here and elsewhere." 
" Yes," I replied, " but mostly to young people, and 
always upon literary and scientific subjects, with a few 
remarks here at home upon temperance." " But," said 



Home, School and Church. 77 

he ? " you understand the history of our nation ; its rela- 
tion to the mother country ; its settlement, progress, 
revolution and results; you know the present political 
aspects of our nation now, and I do not know a man 
who can bring the necessary facts connected with the 
past and the present before us so clearly and practically as 
you can ; you know we have been friends. I recom- 
mended you to this place, and encouraged you to estab- 
lish this school. I assure you, you need not fear. I 
expect to see you a preacher of the gospel yet. I say to 
you, what I have never said before, I want you to be en- 
couraged, but not unwisely excited. I sent my boy to 
encourage the school when but seven years old, not ex- 
pecting him to learn much. I have always maintained 
that it was but of little consequence what a boy learned or 
studied till ten years of age ; but you have completely 
upset my theory — knocked out my underpinning entirely. 
My boy commenced Latin when eight, and read Virgil 
when nine ; and he has been of late talking much about 
Virgil; how far he had got, and how much he had read, 
and here, a few days since, I thought I would examine 
him. I was astonished at his knowledge of the Laitn 
grammar, and more astonished at his ready and clear 
translation of Virgil's works. Your work here in Oxford 
has been a marked success. Go ahead in this celebra- 
tion; do not fear; you can acquit yourself honorably 
and creditably to Oxford." I thanked him, went home, 
studied and carefully prepared. The day came, brought 
with it the usual interests and incidents, and at the 
closing up [of the table exercises thanks were voted as 



78 Life-Incidents of R= C. Stone. 

usual, and a copy of the oration requested for publication. 

During the whole period of my school-life in Oxford, 
I had more or less engaged in lecturing on various liter- 
ary, scientific and moral subjects in this and the sur- 
rounding towns of Charlton, Southbridge, Sutton, Natick, 
Sherborn and Boylston. Among the. sciences, history, 
chemistry and geology claimed and received my especial 
attention. One evening as I was illustrating some chem- 
cal principle in the fusion of solid substances, a spark of 
the matter used in the experiment lighted upon the finger 
of a young lady, now the wife of Henry Ward Beecher, 
producing some active developments of animal life and 
chemical affinity ; although nothing dangerous in the dis- 
solution of old combinations was the result, and nothing 
valuable in the formation of new. 

About this time the subject of temperance in its varied 
forms, and especially " total abstinence," was discussed, 
and had more or less been before the public mind for the 
last two or three years. In the spring of 1829 I became 
convinced of its importance, and publicly took a stand in 
its support. For about two years I had spoken in oppo- 
sition to liquor drinking ; had induced the old military 
company to vote to abandon their former course, but I 
had refused to sign the pledge. I had become satisfied 
of its value to all, and to some its absolute necessity. 
At a public temperance meeting I addressed the people, 
told the exercises of my mind, and the change which it 
had experienced, and asked for the pledge, which I then 
and there signed. It awakened some little interest, and 
I had calls from various places to address the people, to 



Home, School and Church. 79 

which I generally responded. Ever after on this subject 
I have spoken plainly, and discussed, and argued, and 
urged, the importance of " total abstinence " from all 
which intoxicates. On this subject I wrote a communi- 
cation for a paper called the " Independent Inquirer," 
published in Mendon, in which I advocated the same 
views. My position was met by an opponent, a lawyer 
in that vicinity, who took the opposite grounds. Some 
ten or twelve articles were published on both sides, both 
clearly gaining the victory. He was sustained as an 
able advocate of true liberty by all liquor drinkers, and I 
as firmly upheld by the moral, abstinent and virtuous 
men and women of all parties. 

In 1832 a new era seemed to dawn upon me. My 
success as a lecturer, and the suggestions of a few inti- 
mate friends, seemed to bring up the idea of my boy- 
hood days, and the finger of duty seemed to point to the 
" Gospel Ministry." It was not that I was unsuccessful 
in school. I had scholars from every State but one in 
New England. Never did the spring terms of Oxford 
High School open with prospects more bright than in 
1833 and 1834, nor did I ever feel more interest in the 
education of the young. Would my interest in these 
subjects fade out if I entered the ministry ? I thought 
not. I sought direction from my Heavenly Father, and 
finally decided to preach what I understood to be the 
Gospel of Christ. During the years of 1832, and '$^, and 
'34, I read " Butler's Analogy," " Paley's Theology," 
" Tillotson's Works," " Cecil's Remains," " Edward on 
the Affections," and a few other religious works, and had 



80 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

prepared a few sermons on various practical subjects. 
The first sermon which I preached was at the Eliot 
Church, in Natick, Mass., and in full view of the large, 
spreading oak, under which the old Apostle first preached 
to the Indians. In the autumn of 1833 I was appro- 
bated to preach by Worcester West Association of Con- 
gregationalists, having, from time to time, supplied for a few 
Sabbaths each, several pulpits in our vicinity. It was my 
usual custom whenever I preached for any minister to 
request his advice as to my manner of reading, delivery, 
management of subject — doctrine — theoretical or practi- 
cal, and on all matters connected with usefulness and suc- 
cess. I generally had from my brethren valuable remarks 
and useful criticisms, and also I asked them to inform 
me how my discourses were received by the people. 
Sometimes I received, as reported to me, accounts very 
encouraging j at others, the report was very different. 
On one occasion, I was solicited by a brother to preach 
an evening discourse at his church, nearly twenty miles 
from Oxford. I had but two sermons with me, and those 
had been listened to by half at least of those who would 
be present that evening. I finally decided to stay and 
preach from a few notes which I could prepare between 
4 and 7 p. m. I did so. One of my hearers, a Dr. Smith, 
said, as reported to me afterward by the pastor: " They 
say that man is an excellent teacher. I advise him to 
stick to it, for he will never make a preacher." This 
was to me valuable. It showed me my fault — my inability 
to sermonise under such circumstances — that really and 
truly a sermon, or what / called a sermon, was only a 



Home, School and Church. 8i 

frothy amplification of a Bible text rather than sound ex- 
position and illustration of truth. 

It is the fact that all along our lite path we are quite 
as much benefited by what our enemies say of us as by 
the remarks of our friends. He who would mend his 
faults, and overcome his weaknesses, must first learn that 
they exist. Too often, when an enemy, or one regard- 
less of our desires for approbation, says of us a hard 
thing, we wish to kick him out of our path rather than 
carefully look to our own imperfections, and learn 
whether he has spoken of us the truth. I believe the 
remarks of Dr. Smith were to me of more value than the 
general remarks of approbation which I heard. 

The first place in which I preached as a candidate, I 
received a call to become their stated pastor. It was in 
the town of West-Bridgewater, Plymouth county, Mass. 
I had sold my house and school buildings in Oxford to 
Mr. O. Chester, of Norwich, Connecticut, a graduate of 
Yale College, v/ho took possession in June, Miss Whit- 
temore, my assistant, remaining with him, as the school 
was large. The same month I accepted the call ex- 
tended to me as stated above. 

I often look back with astonishment as I call to 
mind the labors, and studies, and struggles, of those nine 
years of my life. The management of that of which I 
became possessed at the death of my father, and which, 
through one unwise financial operation at least, I had 
kept good, though I had gained little, except during the 
last four years — the care and attention to a farm in 
Charlton. This gave me but little trouble, as I had 



82 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

upon it for seven years, I think, an excellent and hon- 
orable man. I am pleased to bear testimony to the 
honest course and judicious management of Samuel 
Hammond, during the long time he was my farm ten- 
ant. The time occupied for study and drill in the 
military course of five years through which I passed ; 
the labor, as a surveyor and measurer of land, more or 
less, every week when at home, during this whole series 
of years; the work performed as appraiser, referee, land 
conveyancer and justice of the peace; the four full 
courses of lectures which I attended, two of which were 
four miles from my home — these two courses occupied 
twenty-six evenings — I, taking notes at the lecture, 
riding eight miles, and then sitting up to copy the whole 
before I slept; the study and mastery of Algebra, the 
Latin and Greek Classics, and translating and writing 
out, in order, the whole of Jacob's Greek. Reader — a 
book of 258 pages, "royal octavo" — 206 pages of selec- 
tions from the most noted and classic Greek authors, as 
"Zeno," " Diogenes," " Xenophon," " Plutarch," "^Elian," 
"Aristotle," " Homer," and many others ; the prepara- 
tion and delivery of many lectures on scientific and 
moral subjects ; the continuous attention and principal 
instruction of a large school, of nearly one hundred 
scholars, forty-two weeks each year. I could never 
have accomplished so much, but from three facts : first, 
I had excellent health ; second, I had, somewhat natur- 
ally, and succeeded truly, in gaining the power of taking 
up one subject and dismissing all others from the mind — 
i, e., one subject of thought, one subject of study, I 



Home, School and Church. 83 

could command, laying aside all others, without what is 
termed absence of mind; third, my wife could manage 
her household affairs — we had a family of seven children; 
she could govern, direct and keep the children in good 
order wirhout troubling me ; and the matters of kitchen, 
bedroom and parlor were satisfactory, judicious and 
economical. 

A few things in this history I will relate before my leav- 
ing Oxford. One of my last years in that town per- 
mitted me to look forward to a vacation, with a prospect 
of some six weeks of leisure. I resolved upon a journey, 
and, all matters being completed, I left for Poughkeepsie, 
on the Hudson River, by the City of New York, that I 
might visit Sabin Lewis, my mother's brother — an uncle 
whom I had not seen for nearly twenty years. He was 
a self-made classical and mathematical scholar, having 
devoted most of his life to teaching, in which employ 
his labors had proved a marked success. He was now 
about sixty years of age, an active man, and a trial 
justice for the town and county where he lived. With 
him I spent three days of much interest and enjoyment, 
as we had kept up, for many years, a correspondence, 
and our life course had, in many respects, been some- 
what similar. 

A remarkable circumstance occurred in his life, thirty 
years before. He was teaching an academy in Chepa- 
chet, R. I., when a Masonic Lodge was formed in that 
town, and, being a new subject, it made some stir among 
the people. My uncle had an expose of Masonry, en- 
titled "Jachin and Boaz." The Lodge denied its 



84 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

truth, but he claimed for it the true letter and spirit of 
the institution. More than this, a large portion of the 
people embraced his views, and he, with them, formed 
another Lodge, having its regular initiations, its pass- 
words, its signs, and its meetings for work, in accordance 
with the directions ol that book. This Lodge, costing 
nothing but the time, became the leading Masonic insti- 
tution of Chepachet, with my uncle at its head. 

Some two years thus passed on, when, my uncle's 
health becoming a little impaired, some merchants of his 
acquaintance offered him the position of supercargo to a 
trading vessel bound to Cuba, which they were fitting 
out j at the same time suggesting that he might take 
out an adventure of his own of such goods as they desig- 
nated, saying to him that it was a common affair to sell 
such private adventures without paying the Government 
duties, thus making a handsome little sum besides the 
salary. He accepted the proposition. He would im- 
prove his health, extend his travels, rest from his school 
labors, and secure a fine sum ot money. The vessel 
accordingly sailed, reached its point of destination, dis- 
posed of its cargo to good advantage, arranged for a 
return cargo, and the discharging and receiving com- 
menced. Now for a sale of his own goods. Carefully, 
prudently, as he thought, they were sold and delivered. 
He thought his work in Cuba about completed. This 
world, however, is full of disappointments, and Cuba 
and my uncle both had their share. Walking the streets, a 
day or two after the sale, he saw a file of men, with an 
unusual earnestness, coming toward him; at the same 



Home, School and Church. 85 

moment, a man, very near them, shouted two or three 
Spanish words, which he could not understand, and the 
soldiers started upon the run ; at the same moment, a 
vision of contraband ribbons and laces seemed full in his 
view, and he turned and ran with all his might. A few 
guns cracked behind him, but they had no effect except 
to increase his speed. Distancing his pursuers, turning 
from lane to street and from street to lane, he found him- 
self almost alone, and directly before a man with whom 
he had traded — made several important sales. Going 
directly up to him and taking his hand, he gave him the 
Masonic sign. The man immediately turned, saying, 
" Come with me." No one being in sight, he took him 
to his house, and gave him a safe shelter, where he 
remained for some days. In the meantime a guard 
was set by the Spanish authorities upon or near the ship, 
that he might be arrested as he came on board. 

The loading of the vessel continued, he keeping quiet 
in the house of his Masonic brother till near its comple- 
tion, when his friend obtained for him a rusty, well worn 
suit of common sailor's clothing, in which he walked out 
at midday, along the street, down to the wharf, and 
upon deck, without the least suspicion by the guard, 
who was patrolling the grounds leading to the ship. He 
was secreted on board until the vessel was about to sail, 
without difficulty. The Spanish authorities, baffled and 
puzzled, determined to make a thorough search of the 
ship and cargo before she left. When that search was 
to be made where should he go ? Into what hiding 
place should he creep ? There is a space between the 



86 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

keel — that portion of a ship which runs deepest in the 
water — and the keelson, a large timber running directly- 
over the keel, and about four or five feet above it, to 
which the floor timbers are fastened. This space, en- 
tirely dark, is almost always filled with large stones for 
ballast; it was so now. Those stones were removed, 
and an opening made, so that he could creep in, some 
thirty or forty feet from the hole or entrance, toward the 
bow, where, when the day came, he could await the 
search. The day came ; he had entered his cave retreat, 
and the dark passage was filled, with rock ballast, as 
before. Every place above and below deck was thor- 
oughly examined, until the Spaniards stood before the 
" ballast hole," in size some three feet by four. The 
order was given, " Take out those rocks ! " 'Twas a 
work, slow and laborious, but they toiled on, hour after 
hour, taking out, and removing, and examining, until 
night closed around them, nor did they then cease their 
labors, but continued the search till about midnight, 
when the examiners gave up, reporting that he was not 
there. The vessel left the wharf before morning, and 
safely reached her home. My uncle reported that the 
search came very near him ; that he crawled in an ex- 
treme corner at the farther end, drawing himself into as 
small a compass as possible, and momentarily expecting 
to feel the sharp iron point of the probing rod, which 
they had used in the examination, and with which he was 
conscious they were feeling, in all directions, among the 
stones. He was saved ; though, after this trip, he, through 
life, entirely relinquished the trade in ribbons and laces. 



Home, School and Church. 87 

Leaving the interesting home of my uncle Lewis, I 
passed up the Hudson, touching at Rhunebeck and 
Hudson, and getting a fine view of the Catskill moun- 
tains towering in the sunlit distance, nearly 4000 feet 
above us, as we pursued our journey toward the North. 
Stopping a day at Albany and another at Troy, a coach 
ride of twenty-five miles brought me to Stillwater, made 
memorable by the defeat of the British Army under 
Gen. Burgoyne, of revolutionary memory. Here the 
English soldiers, victorious in their march from the 
North, were defeated and compelled to lay down their 
arms. The battle-ground extends along the Hudson 
river valley, now on this and now on that side of the 
traveled road, for some seven miles, though the prin- 
cipal bloodshed, the hand to hand fight, was some six 
miles south of Schuylerville, a manufacturing village, 
located on a broad plateau rising some thirty feet, and 
directly west of the plain where the British soldiers laid 
down their arms. On this plain, just west of the Hud- 
son river, are the remains ot old " Fort Hardy," long a 
security and place of refuge for the pioneer settlers of 
these fertile vales and plains against the stealthy incur- 
sions of the Oneidas, the Mohawks, and other warlike 
tribes. I stood upon that blood-stained field. I was 
in the house where the wounded British soldiers were 
carried. I saw the marks of a cannon shot as it passed 
along, fifty-five years before, killing a soldier as he lay 
on a table for the amputation ot his leg. I stood in the 
cellar into which the women and children descended to 
avoid the cannonade of the American artillery; and 



88 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

walked over the field where, twenty-one years before I 
was born, in obedience to the voice of liberty and of 
God, the British soldiers stacked their arms. 

Before leaving Schuylerville, I had the satisfaction of 
listening to a lecture by Lancaster, an Englishman of 
220 pounds weight. His system of teaching and man- 
aging boys had awakened, at that time, a good degree 
of interest. He was intelligent, somewhat refined, and 
had the pover of drawing out the young mind by a 
sportive interest on the one hand, and a genial, com- 
manding power on the other. He could use which he 
pleased, without loosing in either case. He related an 
anecdote of the Prince of Wales and several other gen- 
tlemen calling to visit him and see his school. They 
found him at recess, pulling at one end of a rope, with 
some half a dozen lusty boys tugging at the other. The 
Prince and his company introduced themselves ; he 
thanked them, asked them to stop, and then, without 
letting the boys know the character of his visitors, 
changed the whole aspect of things. Within three 
minutes all were in the school room, and, as he ex- 
pressed it, " their boys' heads off and their men's heads 
on." The main features of reform and improvement 
were, arranging for two, or three, or more recitations at 
one time, by the aid of selected scholars, aiding him as 
teachers ; and sportive action— playing with his scholars 
at recess. 

From Stillwater I journeyed twelve miles to Saratoga 
Springs, the great resort of those seeking rest, display 
and health. At this grand summer resort, I spent two 



Home, School and Church. 89 

days, visiting the various outgushing fountains of the 
Saratoga valley, as "Flat Rock Spring," "High Rock 
Spring," " Congress Spring," and several others, observ- 
ing and taking note of the various surroundings of those 
mineral waters, which have been got up for convenience 
and profit. The place is, indeed, a pleasant summer 
resort for the plea'sure-loving, the wearied, the invalid, 
and, above all, a most convenient place to spend money. 
So far as the mineral waters were sought, the Congress 
Spring was, at that time, the grand attraction. 

On the morning of the second day, I took the stage 
for Utica (the era of railroads had not then arrived), and 
in twenty-four hours reached that city. My stay was 
short; and next morning before sunrise, I was on my 
way for New Berlin, in Chenango county, on the Una- 
dilla river, where lived my uncle, James Lewis, and 
several other relatives. Twenty-four hours' ride over 
hill and dale, brought me to my uncle's pleasant dwel- 
ling, where I spent a week; and a busy week it was, 
introducing me, in our various rides, to the beauties and 
deformities of central New York, and pointing me to 
the places where my uncle, in the vigor of early man- 
hood, had captured the deer, the moose, the wolf and 
the bear. He had been a Nimrod in his earlier days, 
and his mind dwelt with great particularity and accuracy 
on those hill and river scenes, which constituted the 
grand play of his life. 

Leaving New Berlin, I took the stage for Coopers- 
town, Otsego county, as I wished to spend a day or two 
among the scenes of Cooper's Scout and Leather-stock- 



90 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

ing. The day spent there was one, to me, of great 
interest. The road, as it passes the bridge and winds 
up the hill, overlooks the lake ; I almost expected to 
see the deer jump out before me, so graphically is that 
scene described. The lake shore was full of life and 
interest. I seemed to see the living characters of the 
" long, long ago " skimming over the lake in the canoe, 
or, with silent foot-fall, threading the forest. There being 
no stage the next day, I walked fourteen miles, to Cherry 
Valley. The walk, or rather stroll, to me was very 
pleasant and without fatigue. 

That evening I took a coach for Albany, where I 
arrived the next day; and from Troy took the route 
over the mountains, through Cheshire and Greenfield, 
to Eastern Massachusetts. 

I must not omit my passing through Deerfield, where 
I saw the remains of the bloody struggle with Philip, 
Sachem of Pokanoket, in 1675. There stood the "old 
house " where were captured the Rev. John Williams 
and family ; and the very old door, bearing the marks of 
the Indian's axe, as he attempted to cut it through ; and 
there, too, was the mark of the bullet passing through it, 
sending the Indian, sooner than he had anticipated, to 
the fair hunting grounds. Most readers are familiar 
with the history of the Williams family. The parents 
and all the children but one were ransomed and re- 
turned within one or two years. One daughter refused, 
was affianced to a young brave, and spent her life 
among the wild tribes of the West. Her son, a half- 
blood, was a noted chief thirty years before the Revolu- 



Home, School and Church. 91 

tion, and sat in council with the elder " Red Jacket," 
and other leaders among the Six Nations, on the nego- 
tiation of a treaty with the English. Both spoke on the 
occasion, but Williams was the superior man. I had 
the account, in my early days, from Gen. Mattoon when 
he was eighty years of age, and the events occurred in 
his early life, he being secretary to a legation sent out 
to meet the Indians in council. And now, on my return 
trip, I stood in the door, the very door, through which 
that Indian chieftain's mother was led a captive, one 
hundred and fifty-seven years before. 

Thirty-six hours' ride, and I was again with my family 
in Oxford. I was ordained Pastor of the Congrega- 
tional Church, in West Bridge water, in September, 1834, 
having supplied the pulpit three months previously. My 
views of Christian truth were, in the main, very much 
as at present, resting on no theological basis except the 
Bible ; but now, having, on many points, become much 
more clear, and taking a much wider range in the field 
of Christian thought. My views were — God, the Creator, 
Sovereign and Essence of Life; a personality everywhere 
in the Scripture when applied to man — thus : 
God, the Divine Essence. \ One God. 

Christ, the Divine Medium or Manifestation. V See follow- 

[■ ing lllustra- 
Holy Ghost, the Divine Operation. ; tion: 

A thirsting multitude is in a valley ; needing, suffering, 
dying for water. 

God, the Divine Essence, is an ever-living Fountain 
on a mount above and out of their reach. 

Christ, the Divine Manifestation or Medium, is, in his 



92 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Humanity, the water pipe ; in his Divinity, the water in 
the pipe running down to the thirsting, dying multitude. 

Holy Ghost, the Divine Operation, is the water pass- 
ing into their mouth, is the water received into their 
stomachs, quenching their thirst; all one Water quench- 
ing the thirst, all o?ie Divine Spirit saving the soul. 
Also, a future life, in which the consequences of sin 
will be forever felt; also, the change of heart, the new 
birth of the soul ; " Make you a new heart and a new 
spirit, for why will m ye die?" "Except a man be born 
again, he cannot see the kingdom of God." 

My views on Christian fellowship, the?i, strongly in- 
clined to the strong basis of Jesus. "He that doeth the 
will of God, the same is my brother, my sister and my 
mother ; " although I understand that " Not every one 
that saith unto me ' Lord, Lord,' shall enter into the 
kingdom of heaven." My pulpit exchanges were with 
most denominations, believing in the new birth in every 
practical sense, and striving to live a life of holiness. A 
difficulty arose as to the ordaining council. There were 
connected with the society several families of Univer- 
salists. They asked for, demanded even, that some of 
their denominations should be invited to sit in the or- 
daining council. I opposed it as wrong and inexpe- 
dient, and finally told them by such a council I should 
decline an ordination, as it would place me practically 
in a false position. I did not doubt that a Christian 
man might be a Universalist, yet that doctrine did not 
lead those who believed it to holiness ! Of this I was 
assured by an extensive acquaintance with those of that 



Home, School and Church. 93 

faith and my own practical experience. The church and 
most of the society agreeing with my views, the subject 
was dropped, though three or four wealthy families 
left us. 

One man endeavored strongly to injure my influence 
among those leaning toward or embracing those views. 
On one occasion, some years after, he took a friend of his 
to the office of T. Whittemore, editor of the " Trumpet," 
to get something against me. The character given me 
by this editor was exactly the reverse of what he had 
hoped and anticipated. They left the office, walking 
side by side along the street. Not a word was spoken for 
several rods. At length the friend said, " Well, Charles, 
there is not a man in Bridgewater who will give our 
minister a better character than Mr. Whittemore has ! " 
" Well — ahem — well, I suppose he was a good man 
when he knew him ; he was a Universalist then ! " 
This man, on his return from Boston, related to me 
the circumstances. 



CHAPTER III. 

The town of West Bridgewater, one of the four towns 
of nearly the same name, was the oldest settlement in 
the ancient Bridgewater, embracing the first organized 
church, and, in fact, the only church for sixty years. It 
is located twenty miles from Plymouth Rock, and has 
three churches — the Congregationalist, the Methodist, 
and the Baptist — all, as a body, justly -claiming much 



94 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

substantial character and moral worth ; yet progress has 
never been clearly inscribed on their standard. With 
most of the families the Dutchman's prayer has been 
adopted: "God grant that we may be as well off to- 
morrow as to-day." They had had three ministers be- 
fore me; I was the fourth. The first, James Keith, a 
native of Scotland, and father to all the Keiths with 
whom I have met in America, was ordained in 1663, and 
was pastor nearly fifty-seven years. I give you a few 
sentences from a sermon preached by him June 14th, 
1717. 

Text — Ezekiel, $6 chap., 37 verse : " Thus saith the 
Lord, I will yet be enquired of by the house of Israel." 
" From the 24th verse to the close of this chapter we 
have a number of exceeding great and precious prom- 
ises made to Israel. There are promises made to them 
of a new heart and a right spirit — promises of a pardon- 
ing mercy, promises of converting and sanctifying 
grace, and thereunto we have the promises of tem- 
poral blessings — blessings of increase of men ; the 
blessings of peace, of quietness and safety; the bless- 
ings of plentiful provisions in the increase of the field, 
and the fruits of the trees. After a long enumera- 
tion, the Lord informs them in the text what is to be 
done on their part in order to the obtaining of the great 
blessings he doth promise to bestow upon them." Con- 
clusion, " Wait on the Lord and keep his way, that it 
may be well with you." " Be persuaded to suffer a word 
of exhortation, which is given- you from the Lord by your 
aged pastor, who hath served you in the Gospel now full 



Home, School and Church. 95 

fifty-four years and ,1 hope, by the grace of God, in 
some measure of sincerity, though attended with much 
weakness and manifold temptations." " Let these coun- 
sels of the Lord be acceptable to you." " Labor to have 
them engraven upon the tables of your heart, that the 
Lord may take pleasure in your prosperity — that true 
religion, pure and undefiled in the power, beauty and 
glory of it, may live with you, and your children after 
you, to all posterity." 

I also give you a few extracts from a preface to the 
sermon by Increase Mather, D.D., on the publication of 
its first edition in 172 1, and other extracts from his son, 
Cotton Mather, D.D., of the date of the second edition 
in 1768, with events from the " Church History of New 
England," preface by I. Mather. " The New English 
Bridgewater has been a town favored of God; yea, 
some favors of heaven unto it have been distinguishing. 
It was planted a noble vine. Then was a time when it 
stood in the land of un walled villages, with a fierce en- 
emy of bloody Indians destroying all around them." 
Extracts from Church History : " Remarkable was the 
fate of Bridgewater, a most praying and pious town, 
seated in the very midst of the dangers of war. That, 
although they were often assaulted by formidable num- 
bers of the enemy, yet in all their sharp assaults they 
never lost one of their inhabitants, young or old. They 
were solicited strongly to desert their dwellings, but they 
resolved they would keep their stations. And now, on 
May 8th, 1676, the Indians began to fire the town; but 
the inhabitants, with notable courage, issued forth from 



96 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

their garrisons to fight the enemy, and God from heaven 
at the same time fought for them with a storm of light- 
ning, and thunder and rain, whereby a considerable por- 
tion of their houses were preserved." " Thou Church of 
Bridgewater ! " 

" O nimium dilecta Deo, cui militat aether." 
(O, too, beloved by God, for whom the elements give battle.) 

" One who was not a Christian, so sang the favors of 
heaven to the Emperor Theodosius ; and so might the 
Pagan foe sing of thy salvation." It has been the singu- 
lar felicity of this good people, that from the infancy of 
their plantation, they have sat under the ministry of a 
faithful humble servant of God, who continues with them 
to this day ! 

Preface by Cotton Mather, D. D., son of the above: 
" The venerable author of the above sermon died July 25, 
1 7 19, having been fifty-six years a faithful minister of the 
Gospel. He left many children whose posterity are 
numerous in the town. They were without a settled 
pastor till 1721, when the Rev. Daniel Perkins was or- 
dained their pastor. His ministerial labors continued 
sixty-two years, when John Reed, D.D., was ordained, 
and remained their pastor fifty-one years. These three 
pastors remained and ministered to the First Church in 
Bridgewater one hundred and sixty-nine years! An 
equally extended ministry of three pastors to one church 
probably cannot be found in the Church History of 
America. 

The long continuance of a pastor with the people of 



Home, School and Church. 97 

his charge is not always evidence of success, nor is fail- 
ure of success evidence of want of ability as a scholar. 
The Church over which I was ordained pastor was not 
in a flourishing condition, and yet Dr. Reed was a 
fine scholar, a man of marked ability. His mistake, I 
think, was in controverting every denominational error 
which he in any way discovered among his people. One 
of the society spoke to me in this wise : " Dr. Reed was 
a good man, but he made some mistakes — he had too 
much controversy. There were some Baptists among 
us, and he argued till he drove them off; and some Metho- 
dists, and he argued till he drove them off; and some Swe- 
denborgians, and he argued till he drove them off; and 
some Universalists, and they stood the ground with him 
till he died ! He had too much controversy." At the 
time of my ordination there were some less than thirty 
members of the Church, and during Dr. Reed's ministry of 
fifty-one years only fifty-six had made a public profession 
of faith ! Long continuance with one people is not evi- 
dence of religious success, either with pastor or people. 
And the lament which we sometimes hear over the good 
old days when ministers were settled for life has in it less 
of wisdom than we often imagine. During my first years 
at W. B. there was an awakened interest in religion — not 
strong, not urgent, not violent, but steady, onward, up- 
ward. In the eight years of my ministry with this peo- 
ple nearly fifty united with the Church, almost all by 
profession, and several others among the young gave 
evidence of piety. 

Singular as it may appear, no Sunday School had ever 
7 



98 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

.been formed there ! — no effort made — and thejirst year 
of my ministry found me earnestly engaged in doing 
what should have been done years before — gathering the 
children and young people into a Sabbath School. It 
was new work for the people ; but I was not left to work 
alone ; I was aided ; and, during my whole ministry, the 
school was a marked success. In the spring of the second 
year I was somewhat held in check by the want of teach- 
ers, and I preached a sermon, taking for my text, " Why 
art thou so far from helping me ?" It had the desired 
effect, and ever after many ready and efficient workers 
sustained me, and aided me in my labors, both in teach- 
ing and securing a library for the children's use. Basket 
festivals, picnics, were with us a yearly institution, gener- 
ally uniting with the other denominations ; always making 
religious addresses, prayer, and singing a part of the in- 
terest of the day. 

original hymn sung at our first grove gathering. 

A friendly group has gathered round, 

Within this shady bower, 
To raise the shout of gladness here, 

To consecrate this hour, 
To join in sports of innocence, 

Their cheerful voices raise, 
To offer in this house of God 

Their sacrifice of praise. 
This house of God ! — how vast, how high ! 

Its dome the bended heaven, 
Its curtains waving o'er our heads, 

Stirred by the breath of even'. 



Home, School and Church. 99 

Look up ! this is your Father's house ! 

These beauties prove his love ; 
Whose sign of Truth is in the heart, 

And his reward above. 



The effect of religious exercises, adapted to the capa- 
city of children, was felt and seen in many families. In 
one large family of children, the eldest girl, some fifteen 
years of age, was, during my third year's ministry, fast 
declining in a consumption. The father had been a Uni- 
versalist; the mother serious, and strongly inclined to 
consecrate herself to God; but neither of them had 
spoken to the girl. At school I had from time to time 
observed the careful attention of Elizabeth ; sometimes 
the starting tear, speaking unmistakably the language of 
the heart. One day, meeting the father, I inquired about 
his daughter's health, saying, I feared her's was a fatal case, 
asking at the same time if she understood her danger. 
He replied, " I wish you would talk with her." I thanked 
him ; told him I would call to-morrow. I did so, and 
soon entered into a most interesting conversation. She 
informed me that she " did not expect to get well;" that 
she was "soon going to her Saviour; " that she had " for 
nearly two years prayed as well as she could ; " that she 
" could not think of words to make a long prayer; " and 
rising, got her Bible, a birthday present from her father, 
and asked me to select for her reading and study such 
portions as I thought adapted to her case. She lived 
two months after this, and then went quietly and peace- 
fully " Over the River." During her sickness she im- 



ioo Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

pressed herself, as future time has shown, upon that whole 
family. When she was alone with the children she would 
pleasantly converse with them, pray with them, and by 
her strong faith, and loving spirit, seem to place even the 
little ones in the arms of Jesus. As they were sitting at 
the breakfast table, some few hours after the sick one had 
gone to her Saviour, one of the little girls asked : " Shall 
we ever see Elizabeth again ? " Tears flowed, but no 
one at first spoke. A little boy of four years old at 
length answered: "Yes, God will make us all up again 
when we die, and we shall all see her again if we are 
good!" The remains of that little boy, who thus an- 
swered, now sleep in the cemetery beside that dear sis- 
ter. He was a good boy, and a noble man ; was a cap- 
tain in the armies of his country, and fell in defence of 
her liberty. Seven years ago I stood by the monument 
which the soldiers of his company have erected over his 
grave. Another instance of early piety was very marked 
in a boy about twelve years old. He had been for the 
last year very punctual in his Sunday School class and at 
church, although his parents did not by their example 
especially encourage him. Henry was their only son, a 
" child tenderly beloved." He was taken sick, and after 
some weeks of painful anxiety hope faded entirely out; 
their son must die. When this was known to the family, all 
were agonized with grief. Henry only was calm. The 
father and mother wept tears of untold agony. In the midst 
of this heartrending scene, the little boy addressed his 
parents: " Don't weep, father! don't weep, mother ! Per- 
haps God sees if I live to be a man I shall be very 



Home, School and Church. ioi 

wicked, and he is going to take me to heaven. Don't 
weep ! " A few days after, I attended his funeral. 

In the first years of my ministerial life in Plymouth 
county, I adopted a different and more systematic course 
of amusements, general reading, and devotional exercises 
in my family than before. My children readily united in 
the course arranged by myself and wife. It was this : 
The earlier part of the evening was devoted to reading 
some work of instruction and interest, adapted to the ca- 
pacity of the young, by some one ot the family, while the 
others were engaged in work. This was varied, how- 
ever, by circumstances. At half past eight o'clock all 
work and reading ceased, and some play or amusement, 
either active or mental, commenced, continuing half an 
hour ; next followed our devotions, reading the Scrip- 
tures, singing, and prayer, by each one, from the eldest to 
the youngest. This course of family devotions was con- 
tinued for years, until my children left for other homes, 
or other fields of labor. My eldest son, when I removed 
to Plymouth county, was sixteen years of age, having 
read the classic authors, and pursued the studies requi- 
site to enter college. He had taught school one season 
at Oxford when but fourteen years old, and two seasons 
in Rutland, Mass. The summer following, after a course 
of study at Bridgewater Academy, he entered Brown 
University, Prov., R. I. Completing his Freshman year at 
the university, he taught during the-next year the " Oxford 
High School," the man to whom I sold having failed of suc- 
cess. At the end of that year he resumed his place again in 
the University, graduating at the end of three years, in 1840. 



102 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

During my eight years of ministerial labors at W. B. 
I endeavoured to improve the public school, being much 
ot the time on the School Committee, and on four occasions 
at least lengthening the winter schools for the general ben- 
efit, without compensation, for a month. At two several 
times I taught classes of young gentlemen and ladies 
who were preparing to teach in our public schools. 
Occasionally I meet those outgushings of early interest 
awakened thirty or forty years ago, still alive and bright 
as ever. During my visit at Bridgewater, seven years 
since, I called at the house of Dr. A. Millett, a man oi 
reputation in his profession, and one of the Governor's 
Council. Ringing the bell, his wife, formerly a scholar 
of mine, whose maiden name was Huldah Byram, came 
to the door. I inquired for a gentleman whom I ex- 
pected to meet there, and then said : " This is Huldah." 
" Yes," said she, " Huldah ; and this is Mr. Stone. O, 
do call me Huldah all the time you stay. You must 
come in and stop awhile with us. I wish very much to 
see Mrs. Stone, but she never preached or taught school." 
In the course of my call she spoke with much interest of 
former days, and informed me that her eldest son had 
just entered upon his first year at Harvard University. 
■ „f As opportunity permitted, I occasionally delivered a 
single lecture, or a short course on some scientific or 
moral subject, in W. B., or in the vicinity, embracing 
" English History," " Geology," " Temperance," and 
" Phrenology." The time of which I am speaking was 
at the most exciting period on the last subject. Phreno- 
logical writers and practical head-examiners were starting 



Home, School and Church. 103 

up all around us. If a man lifted his hat his head was 
read, and the history of his life penned down upon the 
tablet of surrounding minds. Wives were selected, hus- 
bands were sought out by the phrenological map of their 
heads. The community was alive upon the subject. 
One enthusiast told me that he selected his wife by this 
test. At the time, however, of his statement, he had but 
just passed the interesting season of those first three 
weeks. Whether subsequent life verified his faith I have 
never learned. I examined the subject as well as cir- 
cumstances' permitted, reading Combe, and Sewall, and 
several other authors, and attending several examinations 
and lectures. In these researches I became satisfied that 
though the brain is, or may be, the physical organ of the 
mind, still, as a practical science, little can be known or 
predicted from its external examination. Twice my head 
was examined by the same Professor, unknown to him, 
at Boston. Twice also one evening my head was ex- 
amined by a lecturer, unsuspected by him, at the shire- 
town of my old county, in Rhode Island, where I had 
been summoned to attend court as a witness. The facts 
were : A man advertised to lecture on phrenology at the 
large court-room, at 7 o'clock p.m., stating in his posted 
bills that the lecture was free, but a collection would be 
taken at the close. The house was crowded with men 
almost entirely. The lecture was abundant in wordy 
flattery, and wanting in those cardinal principles on 
which the supposed science is based. Several heads 
were examined, and characters given, which amused the 
ignorant and pleasure-loving, descending even to the 



104 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

borders of rowdyism, in which low blackguardism formed 
a part. Some eight or ten of my acquaintances were 
sitting near me. I said to them, that man is an igno- 
ramus, and deserves exposure. They agreed in my view 
of the subject. With little or no consultation, an old 
cloak was obtained from a man near us, and when the 
lecturer called for a subject for examination, I stepped 
forward dressed in my black overcoat, and having on 
colored glasses as usual. Some one as I stepped upon 
the platform pronounced the word "doctor," and the 
lecturer spoke of me in all his remarks as the " doctor." 
He gave me an excellent character for moral virtue, 
Christian principle, and intellectual strength and power. 
There seemed a murmur of approbation, low but strong, 
as if they acknowledged the justice of the character. 
The lecturer then went on for ten minutes expatiating 
on the value of phrenology as a science, illustrated by 
the fact that it enabled him thus to know and read the 
man who had just sat down, as they all knew, aright. 
He then called for another subject for examination. 
With my glasses off, with an old faded plaid cloak (plaid 
cloaks were usual then) drawn around me I again stepped 
upon the platform, and seated myself in the chair. As 
I sat down I heard the words : " Different charac- 
ter;" "another sort," from the crowd. The lecturer 
began. He attempted to be very sportive, said some 
witty things, but gave me a character entirely different, 
with scarcely one point of coincidence. Neither the 
speaker nor one in fifty of the audience had the least 
idea of the facts. Judge their surprise when I rose from 



Home, School and Church. 105 

the chair, put on my glasses, and dropping down the old 
cloak, looked the lecturer full in the face; and then, 
turning, faced the crowd. The house trembled with 
shouts and scream*. At length one loud voice shouted : 
" For the door / Forward, march / " The house was 
soon cleared ; the hat was not passed round for the con- 
tribution ; and never to my knowledge have I since met 
that phrenologist On another occasion, at Boston, I 
borrowed a light-colored overcoat and fur cap from my 
friend, and then, calling at the rooms of Fletcher, the 
phrenologist, asked him to examine my head and give 
me a chart. He did so, and I left him, without conver- 
sation. Next morning, dressed as usual, hat and colored 
glasses, I entered his rooms, spent two hours in examin- 
ing his specimens — his casts — and in conversation, and 
again on examination he gave me another chart. One 
organ which he gave six at evening, was four in the 
morning. Of the others more than half varied one, none 
more than one. His course convincing me that while I 
believed him honest in applying the test, yet nothing 
which I saw satisfied me that the test was true. And 
further, if the test was true, he was liable to vary one- 
sixth in his most accurate calculations; and then the 
combinations of these organs renders the matter so in- 
tricate and complex that no valuable practical result can 
be attained. I gave several short courses of lectures on 
the subject, and had a discussion in our lyceum for two 
or three evenings with a professed Phrenologist, much to 
the satisfaction of my friends, and to the establishment 
of the truth upon this subject among people of common 



106 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

sense. The frenzy of phrenology within a few years 
died away, so that, with its twin brother astrology, 
scarcely a vestige now remains. 

An unusual instance of longevity occurred in East 
Bridgewater, in case of Deacon John Whitman, living 
about two miles from West Bridgewater village. His 
son preached my ordination sermon. He had three sons 
in the Congregational ministry of New England. The 
father, when I first met him, was ninety-nine years of 
age. A friend and myselt calling, we found him in a 
field hoeing potatoes. It was a warm day, and as he vig- 
orously plied the hoe among the growing weeds, he would 
stop from time to time, take his handkerchief from his 
bosom, and, wiping the perspiration from his face, would 
continue his work with the vigor of early days. We lin- 
gered as we looked, that we might observe the veteran of 
nearly five-score years in the field and earnestly at work. 
We called and introduced ourselves. He gave us his hand 
with great cordiality, standing nearly six feet high, 
strongly and firmly built, and appearing no more than 
seventy-five at most. He apologised for us finding him 
there, but I assured him that an introduction in his po- 
tato-field was far more interesting than it could be in his 
parlor. We spent a happy hour with him at his house 
in interesting conversation, in which he frequently took 
the back track of life seventy, eighty, sometimes ninety 
years in the "long, long ago." He had been a disciple 
of Christ about eighty years, a church officer between 
fifty and sixty, and ?ww there was no cloud between him 
and his God. A bright view of a forgiving Savior, and 



Home, School and Church. 107 

a faith which works by love, were the wings by which, 
in Divine meditation, he has ascended up to heaven. He 
could trace back the line of life, in some instances, nine- 
ty-Jive years; could remember the early days of Rev. D. 
Perkins, of West Bridgewater ; could see Dr. Reed from 
the day of his ordination till his death, fifty -one years ; 
had listened to the earnest, fervid eloquence of White- 
field, and heard the sweet, persuasive voice of Wesley, 
during their labors in America. And now, with the free- 
dom of his country based on the glorious superstructure 
of truth, resting on the sacred volume and held by it as the 
sheet anchor of his nation's prosperity, he was waiting, 
waiting, waiting the Master's call, to join the loved ones 
who have already passed over the river." 

On his centennial birthday an interesting exercise was 
held in his own church, and a sermon preached by his pas- 
tor. The house was crowded at an early hour. I never 
saw so many old men and old women gathered on any one 
occasion ; there seemed little room for the young. The 
house was filled. The choir and minister in their places. 
All was silent. A breath might almost have been heard 
when the old veteran, erect and with firm and steady 
step, entered the house. At that moment the choir 
struck up the anthem, " Mark the perfect man and be- 
hold the upright, for the end of that man is peace." The 
effect was electric. Scarcely was there a dry eye in the 
house. He walked the full length of the aisle and took 
his seat in a chair provided for him just before the pulpit 
and facing the audience. The exercises were deeply in- 
teresting, showing that the " hoary head is a crown of 



108 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

glory when found in the way of righteousness." The 
audience profited by this interesting season, but the hear- 
ing, of the man of five-score was too obscured to under- 
stand the words of the preacher. He lived after this be- 
tween seven and eight years, and then quietly went 
home. 

During the m closing years of my stay in Plymouth 
County I was introduced to Charles Poyen, of "Animal 
Magnetism " memory, a native of France, with whom I 
became somewhat acquainted. I attended several of 
his lectures, and he visited with me several sick persons, 
by my invitation, as test cases of the power and reality 
of that wonderful element, whether material or not mate- 
rial, I cannot tell. In the course of my investigations 
with him and others I became fully satisfied of the fact 
that mind can communicate with mind independently of 
matter. I have seen that tastes may be governed by the 
magnetizer; e. g., salt in the mouth of the magnetizer or 
agent is tasted as salt in the mouth of the subject. 
There can be no mistake in this. I have seen it tested 
twenty times in succession without a failure in the tastes 
of salt, sugar, candy, etc., when another's wish, or re- 
quest, or will acts like a law. This may not always pro- 
duce similar results ; nor can I tell why this reflex action 
of another's will sometimes take place, and sometimes it 
will not. Those interested in these matters may gain 
some light by consulting the " Philosophy of Mysterious 
Agents," by Dr. E. C. Rogers, of Boston, Mass. From 
all which I have read, or seen, or studied, however, on 
this subject, and I have availed myself of very many fav- 



Home, School and Church. 109 

orable opportunities, I have never been satisfied that 
any of the phenomena is the work of departed spirits. 
So says the Philosophy of Dr. Rogers. 

Another subject, more practical in its character, occu- 
pied my attention to a great extent while in W. B. It 
was the subject of temperance. West Bridge water has a 
large farming population, several small shoe manufacto- 
ries, several saw, corn and shingle mills, a large welding, 
plating and grinding branch of Ames' " Shovel Manufac- 
tory," and. an extensive Furnace for the casting and 
moulding of most articles in that line. These, with the 
stores and mechanics' shops which such a population 
would naturally call in, constituted the motive business- 
power of the town. The Boston and New Bedford 
thoroughfare passed through it (the railroad not being 
constructed for many years after), demanding, as was 
thought, a hotel. A hotel in those days must have a 
bar ; yes, must have it / If our own people could do 
without it, the traveling public must have it. This hotel 
was not quite sufficient, and one or more rum shops 
sprung up, but the hotel did the principal business. The 
liquor- drinking affected our whole society. Farmers, 
merchants, mechanics, all looked upon this state of things 
with composure, though many, many of the young, the 
middle-aged and the old were sinking under its influ- 
ence, if not actually enrolled on the drunkard's list. I 
conversed with many who saw the evil, but were timid, 
doubtful. " I don't believe anything can be done," was 
often repeated. A few, however, were ready to take 
hold. In this state of affairs I preached a sermon 



no Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

directly to the point, taking the ground of total absti- 
nence as a Christian duty, discussing and maintaining 
the value of the pledge, and with much clearness point- 
ing unmistakably to the cases of alcoholic destruction 
right before us. It made quite a sensation. The ladies 
of a wealthy family in the constant use of alcoholic stim- 
ulants called on another family of similar position during 
the week. The ladies at home inquired of the callers, 
" How did you like the sermon on Sabbath morning ? " 
" Very well." " What ! you are not all for total abstinence, 
are you ? " " No, but Mr. Stone is ; and I rejoice that he 
has the independence to preach it plainly and ably." 
Many who did not exactly come to my ground were 
stronger friends to me than before, seeing the good re- 
sults which followed. This family, after I had left the 
parish, sent for me, fifty miles away, to officiate at the 
marriage of their daughter. Some were severe in their 
censure ; but it was the beginning of temperance action 
and temperance opposition. By lectures, and preaching, 
and conversation, however, we made some headway. 
Among those who had fallen, there were several who 
awakened our especial attention. The old miller who 
ground our corn, then nearly seventy years old, was 
sometimes down, taking a ride on the Black Valley 
Railroad, and he had a son of thirty treading along in 
his father's footsteps. One younger man, married some 
two years before, a true gentleman when sober, but a pat- 
tern devil when drunk, discharged a gun at the wife of a 
neighbor ; one shot struck her ; he was sent to the State's 
Prison for five years. One man of about forty had stood 



Home, School and Church. hi 

high in the military ranks, was the principal merchant 
in the village, was Postmaster, and a very fine singer 
and musician, had been broken up in his business, had 
been turned out of office as Postmaster, had suffered 
almost death by the " delirium tremens," and was then 
working at custom-shoe making for his daily support. 
Such were some of the ravages of alcoholic death in our 
town. 

One singular circumstance occurred : A young man 
who was not a drunkard worked with the Antis for a 
time against me ; probably with a partial desire to sig- 
nalize himself, and partially from his love, as he thought, 
of Universalism. I had never made, in my public exer- 
cises, any attack upon that doctrine, but simply preached 
the truth as I understood it, plainly and clearly. I could 
hear ot his witticisms occasionally. He was frequently at 
our church with pencil and paper, apparently taking notes, 
and by his manner, his countenance and smiles called 
down upon himself the censure of the serious and truth- 
loving. One morning I exchanged with the Baptist. 
Now, there was a man living near this church who rarely 
attended anywhere, but when he did so he was always 
accompanied by his dog, a large mastiff. The two were 
my hearers, sitting in the front pew, the dog on the seat 
beside his master, sometimes dropping his head a little 
as if sleepy, but at no time lying down. The young man 
whom I described also was there, and rather outdid 
himself in nods, and smiles, and scribbles. On my going 
home a neighbor said : A. B. was up to the Baptist 
Church to hear you to-day, wasn't he ? How did he be- 



ii2 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

have ? I replied, " James Ames' dog behaved better 
than he did." The remark soon reached him, and ren- 
dered him exceedingly angry. It was very severe, to be 
sure ; but I believe it produced a good effect. It was so 
severe that it led him to consideration — to a review of 
himself. He saw in the raillery which it called down 
upon him the condemnation even of his own associates. 
He soon left the ranks of the drinkers and rowdies, and 
within the year became a man of prayer, connecting 
himself with the Methodist Church. Ever after we were 
on terms of friendship. He frequently spoke of his un- 
wise course, and several times said, " I have no doubt 
the dog behaved better that day than I did." Nearly 
twenty years afterward, it being known that I was to 
preach in town, this man, having moved away, came 
eight miles to hear me, saying, " I thought I must come 
and hear the old man once more." 

The efforts made in this cause, and the interest taken, 
soon led to a negotiation for the purchase of the hotel, 
in order to make it a thorough temperance house, being 
sure that all others in the traffic would immediately stop. 
The sum wanted, I think, was about four thousand dol- 
lars, which was divided into shares of one hundred dol- 
lars each. The hotel owner was Gov. J. Reed, son of 
the former minister, who generously consented to hold 
ten shares; the balance was taken by men of strong 
moral virtue and earnest interest in the cause. Meeting 
with good success in a tenant, the house was soon what 
we desired, and its pestilential breath, so long felt and 
suffered, ceased forever. Upon the construction of the 



Home, School and Church. 113 

railroad from Boston to New Bedford the hotel was sold 
for a store and boarding house, and the town has, ever 
since its purchase, been free from the blight and curse of 
the liquor traffic. A very bitter feeling pervaded the 
Anti-Temperance class at the closing up of this fountain 
of pollution, and malice and revenge found vent, not 
only in curses loud and deep, but in private mischief; 
in cutting harness amid night's darkness, thus imperiling 
the life of myself and family ; in girdling apple trees and 
in blacking the piazza posts to the new dwelling which I 
had but just completed. Such pitiable and contemptible 
outbursts of malice were felt to be worthy only of those by 
whom they were perpetrated, and rather advanced than 
retarded the cause. Some years after we purchased the 
hotel we engaged a Washingtonian by the name of Page 
to lecture and visit among us for two weeks — visit in the 
day, lecture in the evening. At the time appointed he 
commenced his work. I gave him the history of those 
whom I have named, and many others, that he might 
understand how to approach them. Sometimes I accom- 
panied him, sometimes he called alone. His success was 
almost unparalleled. Our old miller and son, with their 
families ; our former Postmaster and family, and many 
other inveterate drinkers — Page could reach them ; he 
had been with them on the Railroad to Death and tick- 
eted for Perdition. In four days he had as many hun- 
dreds on the " pledge," men, women and children. 

The Baptists, located two miles west of our place, had 
not acted with us. I wished to interest them. Calling 

upon their minister, I informed him of our labors and 
8 



ii4 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

success. He was interested, and said he would endeavor 
to awaken his people, and have the labors extended to 
that part of the town. During our further conversation 
he inquired if any drunkards had signed the pledge. I 
informed him that the pledge had been taken by as many 
as TEN ! Rather unwisely, on the following Sabbath, 
in urging his people to action, he remarked, " Mr. Stone 
informed me that as many as ten drunkards had signed the 
pledge." The statement flew, and before sunset, was known 
all over our village. Drinkers, even reformed men, are 
often very sensitive on this point, and now a class whose 
toes touched the line of drunkenness were all a-fire. Mon- 
day morning found a gathering of fifteen or twenty near 
the corn mill, breathing out hot words against the slan- 
derous preacher. One said, " It is downright slander ; " 
another, " Ten drunkards ! there is not a word of truth 
in it ; " another, " If I knew he meant me, I'd knock 
him down." In the midst of this smoke and fire the Old 
Miller spoke : " Stop, men, stop, don't be so fast; better 
count up and see." " Count up and see ! " said one, 
angrily ; " I know there's not a word of truth in the as- 
seition ! " " Well, well, reckon up. You may put down 
John Pooles to begin with " (that was the miller's name); 
" and there's A. — he was a drunkard, you know ; and 
B. — he was a drunkard ; " so he kept on to the tenth. 
" There," said he ; "don't you see, Mr. Stone only told 
the simple truth; and if 'twas necessary, we could, 
squeeze in a few more of you." The company scattered 
to their work. I always felt thankful to my old friend 
for his very timely defense. The history of the man of 



Home, School and Church. 115 

whom I said, " he was a gentleman when sober," but a 
" pattern devil when drunk," is full of interest. He was 
sent to the State's Prison for five years, but behaved so 
well that he was pardoned out at the end of one. On 
his return, having a wife and one child, he took a house 
at our village, was actively industrious, was steady in his 
attendance at church, and no man was more courteous 
or manly than he. I often called upon him, and all re- 
joiced in his industry and sobriety. Some three years 
after his return, he fell into his old habit of intoxication. 
I urged upon him his danger — danger far greater than to 
most inebriates — from the frenzied madness with which, 
in his case, it was ever accompanied. I urged his re- 
sponsibility to God, to his wife and to his children, but 
with no permanent good results. Within a year from 
his fall, in a fit of drunken desperation, stepping behind 
a fellow laborer, and throwing his left arm around him, 
with his right he drew a large, sharp knife entirely across 
his bowels. A thick leather apron and other clothing 
prevented fatal results ; but the apron and pants were 
entirely cut through, as also was the skin in several 
places. Medical skill was applied — the wound soon 
healed. The man was arrested, and, on his way to Ply- 
mouth jail, escaped from the officer. The Grand Jury 
found a bill of indictment. Skulking from point to point, 
occasionally calling upon his wife and children among 
her triends, whither she had gone, he eluded the search 
of the officer, most of the time, as we learned, phrenzied 
by intoxication. At length he enlisted on board a man- 
of-war lying at the Charlestown " Navy-yard." Here he 



n6 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

came to himself, saw his awful condition, wrote a letter 
to his wife, lamenting in agony of soul his sinful course, 
and his refusal and neglect of advice and kind counsel. 
In this letter he stated his determination to desert, what- 
ever might be the consequences, rather than go out on a 
cruise, and closed in despairing agony, saying, " O ! if I 
had one friend to aid me and try to obtain my discharge, 
I might yet be a man, and live to provide for you and 
the children!" The wife, walking some five miles, 
brought the letter to me. I sought from the light of 
truth now around me, and light from the Father, to 
know my duty in the matter, and finally determined, un- 
der certain considerations, to aid .him. I first went to 
the Selectmen of the town, laid before them the case, his 
sufferings, the condition of his wife and children. All 
agreed that when intoxicated he was a dangerous man ; 
and all agreed, if he would drink no more intoxicating 
liquors, it would be best he should return ; but he had 
been tried — he had promised and fallen ! Yes ; but now 
there was a stronger inducement than ever. That indict- 
me?it, like a sword, hung suspe?ided over his neck, and it 
would hang there while he lived; it would never outlaw. 
These matters were all talked over, and the decision of the 
Selectmen was, " they would do nothing to aid his re- 
lease." I next went to the Sheriff. The same arguments 
as before the town officers were presented and discussed, 
with the same results. The Sheriff gave me to understand 
that he had the warrant, and should arrest him upon it as 
soon as he, under any circumstances, was released from 
the naval service. I then wrote to the Clerk of the 



Home, School and Church. 117 

Court, with whom I was somewhat acquainted, stated 
the case fully, and asked his co-operation with me in 
legally and safely restoring the man, reformed, to his 
family; at the same time holding the warrant — the sus- 
pended sword — over him in case he should again fall. 
I received from that gentleman a very kind letter, com- 
mending my course, saying that the warrant was in his 
hands, and should not go out until he had certain intelli- 
gence of the man's return to a course of drunkenness. I 
could now .go on without the aid of the Selectmen. I 
could snap my fingers at the Sheriff. The way was 
opened to lead him to virtue, to his family and to his 
Savior. I soon visited him at the navy-yard, and stated 
the case to the officer in command. The Commodore 
said he would throw no obstacle in the way of his re- 
lease, but ho one except the " Secretary of the Navy " 
could grant it. I then sent a petition for his discharge 
to Abel P. Upshur, " Secretary of the Navy," signed by 
the wife and myself, and received by return mail his dis- 
charge in full, by paying what he was indebted to the 
United States for bounty money not liquidated by his 
service. With this discharge I again went to Charles- 
town, paid the money myself, about eighteen dollars, and 
he was from the naval service legally discharged. He 
promised me he would sign the pledge of total absti- 
nence and never again touch what had so nearly been his 
ruin. It is now more than thirty-four years since I 
walked with him over Charlestown Bridge, and I believe 
he has faithfully kept his promise. Some two or three 
years after his release he wrote me as follows : 



n8 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

" North Bridgewater, August 17, 1839. 
" Dear Mr. Stone : 

" I sent you a certificate from the Clerk, of my joining 
the Temperance Society in North Bridgewater when I 
signed the pledge. I hope you got it. I am sure, by 
God's help, to drink no more intoxicating liquor. I am 
poor, but we get a comfortable living. We have now four 
children. I have nothing to pay you with but my labor 
as yet. Your son has a farm ; does he want work ? I 
will go most any time and work for him. I never can 
thank you enough for your kindness. I feel you are my 
Savior. God bless you. 

" Yours, ." 

In answer I said: 

" Do not trouble yourself about what you owe me. 
Take care of your lamily ; educate them ; bring them 
up in prudence, industry, virtue and goodness ; live com- 
fortably and happy. When all this is done, and you have 
a surplus to spare, you may send it to me, but not be- 
fore ; it is all right now. 

" Yours, -." 

Some years since I visited him, I found him comfort- 
able, but not affluent. One ot his sons was engaged in 
the manufacture of shoes ; a second, born after his re- 
turn from the navy-yard, was the principal merchant in 
the village where they lived. The whole family virtuous 
and respected. As I looked upon that family, as I sat 
in their nice parlor— as I cast my eye over the shoe man- 
ufactory of one son, and the snug, well-kept store of an- 
other, and then remembered my eighteen dollars, I saw 



Home, School and Church. 119 

written out on all these surroundings, " Cast your bread 
upon the waters; you shall find it again after many 
days." 

The same year, or the one previous, I visited my friend 
and former Postmaster, and with him and his family 
spent a most happy afternoon and evening. Again he 
has a store, and with it carries on the shoe trade. Again 
he is Postmaster, and, more than this, the year before I 
visited him he represented the town in the State Legis- 
lature. 

Some reminiscences of the family, now consisting of 
nine children, may here be in place. My eldest son hav- 
ing graduated at Brown University and studied for the 
ministry, was ordained Pastor of the Congregational 
Church, Mansfield, Mass., and a few years after was 
married to Miss Elmira Lathrop, of West Bridgewater. 
My second son, now nineteen, had been a teacher two 
seasons with marked success, engaging some five months 
yearly in that employment, and devoting the balance of 
the year to agricultural pursuits. Of agriculture he had 
been particularly fond from his boyhood up. When 
eight years old he said to me, " Father, I wish to work 
on a farm; are you willing? " I replied, "Yes, if you 
can find any One to employ you." I had no idea of his 
succeeding ; but he started off. Mr. John Fitts, a wor- 
thy farmer about two miles from us, set him to work, 
and, singular as it may seem, the boy remained with 
him three years with no contract and no stipulated com- 
pensation. All went right, however ; not a word of con- 
troversy or a thought of unkindness. He was taught 



120 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

well, taught field and home duties, had an excellent 
home, became well skilled in agriculture in its various 
branches, and was early a man in stature, mind and 
knowledge. A little incident occurred when he had been 
with Mr. Fitts about two months. One morning, on my 
return from school, I found my boy at home. " How is 
this ? " I inquired. " Why are you at home ? " He 
answered, "I could not hoe corn as I wished to." " Did 
Mr. Fitts find fault ? " " He showed me how ; but I 
could not make it look as he did." " Did he punish 
you ? " " No." " Did he reprove you ? " « No." " Did 
he send you home ? " " No." I said, " You will stay 
home till morning, and then go back to your work." I 
subsequently learned that when they commenced hoe- 
ing corn, the boy could not make the work look to .suit 
himself; that, after a little instruction and a few efforts, 
he threw down his hoe, saying, " I shan't work on a farm 
again till I get to be somebody," and then went home. 
His appearance at Mr. Fitts' next morning called out 
the banter, " Really, you have grown quick / " "Got up 
fast / " "Somebody very soon ! " During these years he 
attended the regular winter school terms, but evinced lit- 
tle love of study until about sixteen, when he became 
awake to its importance, and devoted nearly a year to 
its pursuits. When seventeen he taught with marked 
success, continuing a portion of each year till about 
1844, when for two years he taught the yearly " North 
Bridgewater High School " until leaving for more active 
employment, on account of his health. 

fyfy third son had entered Brown University when 



Home, School and Church. 121 

fourteen, the earliest age admitted, and the second sea- 
son following taught school during three winter months 
in the town of Easton, Bristol county, about six miles 
from our home in West Bridgewater. He commenced 
with favorable prospects, but soon a few large scholars 
manifested a disposition to disregard certain regulations, 
and one even refused obedience. This led to his expul- 
sion. Wishing to have the matter settled amicably, I 
proposed leaving the subject to the decision of the 
" School Board." The expelled young man and his 
father readily acceded to my proposal. The meeting of 
the School Directors revealed the fact that some ten or 
twelve men, ranging in years from eighteen to thirty, 
headed by an unyielding spirit of strong and violent pas- 
sions, had determined to dismiss the teacher. He, 
mere boy but just turned of seventeen, had dismissed 
one of their number, and now, whether right or wrong, 
he should go. 

There was a large gathering at the meeting of the 
" School Board," and the opposers employed an advo- 
cate to manage their case. A large portion of the day 
was spent in the examination of the testimony and the 
arguments, after which Dr. Deans, the Chairman of the 
" Board," gave their unanimous decision in favor of the 
teacher, approving the school regulations and the man- 
ner taken to secure obedience, while they censured the 
course of the young man who had been, as they decided, 
justly expelled. 

On this announcement the opposition, especially the 
leader, was fierce and violent, and from his threats and 



122 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

manner I was sure some further action would soon be 
taken to especially interfere with, or stop the school. I 
was right. Within the week this leader, with eight or 
ten others, rode up to the school-house, a mile from their 
place of business, and, finding the school-house locked 
(the teacher on their arrival had locked it), burst it open 
and entered with noise, shoutings, jokes and insults. The 
teacher informed the scholars that they were dismissed 
for the day, and, notifying the School Agent, immedi- 
ately came home to West Bridgewater. Betore night 
the leader and eight of his assistants were arrested and 
taken to Taunton, the county seat, for a trial, or bonds, 
or immediate commitment. They made strong effort to 
avoid the complaint ; but it was sustained, and they were 
put under bonds for good behavior and trial at the next 
Criminal Court for riot. The school closed without fur- 
ther molestation, except that several suits for damage 
were brought by the parties who had been arrested or 
expelled. 

The Criminal Court found bills ot indictment against 
nine, and they prepared for trial. They had employed 
three lawyers in their previous trials. They had now 
added an eminent criminal lawyer from the County of 
Plymouth. In order for the proper management of the 
case, a consultation must be had that " Lawyer Beals 
could fully understand all the matters connected there- 
with, and the following statements, remarks and inqui- 
ries took place on the occasion. (I had the account from 
one of the lawyers who was present.) The leader com- 
menced : " The teacher is very young." Beals. — Well, 



Home, School and Church. 123 

he is not to blame for that."" L. — " He set apart a par- 
ticular time for writing." B. — " Well, that is very good; 
it is the course pursued in all our best schools." L. — 
" He turned a scholar out of school who refused to write 
at the appointed time ; and when the scholar afterwards 
took his writing book, the teacher told him to put it 
aside, and because the scholar did not do it, he ordered 
him out of the house." B. — " Just what he ought to 
have done. What next ? " L. — " Then he proposed to 
call the ' School Board ' together and let them decide." 
B. — " Well, I declare, he is a wise man for one so young. 
What did the ' School Directors ' do ? " L.— " They ap- 
proved of his course." B. — " Go on." L.— " Well, we 
then sent into school a young man, one who is now in- 
dicted, to see what the teacher would do." B. — " Well, 
what did he do ? " L.— " He let him alone." B.— " But 
how did he do with his lessons ? " L. — " He heard them 
at regular times with the rest." B. — " How about writ- 
ing?" L. — "The young man did not write at all." 
B. — " Well, then, the whole substance is, the young man 
went into school, was regular in his studies, behaved 
well, and was treated well." L. — " Yes." B. — " Well, 
gentlemen, I see nothing but that your teacher is a wise 
young man. What next ? " L. — " We who are indicted 
went to the school-house, and, finding it locked, burst 
in the doors." B. — " Were you noisy ? " L. — " Some." 
B. — « What did the teacher do ? " L.— " He dismissed 
the school, telling the scholars there would be no more 
school that day." B. — " I declare ! that young man is 
a perfect Solomon ! I never heard of a course so wise 



124 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

under such difficulty ! Gentlemen, there is nothing for 
you to do but go into court and plead guilty ; no defense 
can avail you at all." A few words passed, the course 
recommended was adopted — they plead guilty to the in- 
dictment at the Criminal Court, and withdrew all the 
other suits which they had commenced. The leader 
took occasion twice to express to me his regrets for the 
course which he pursued, saying that my conduct had, 
through the whole affair, been that of a Christian and a gen- 
tleman, but he had done many things he was sorry for and 
ashamed of. The effect of the suit, I believe, was good 
upon the counties of Plymouth, Bristol, and the places 
where the circumstances were known and understood. 
The next year a gentleman from the Plymouth county, 
about fifteen miles from Taunton, called to engage one of 
my sons as teacher. I informed him that my eldest sons 
were engaged ; that I had no one except him who had 
the Easton difficulty. He replied, that is the very one 
I want. His labors were attended with success, and, 
pursuing his College course, graduated in 1842, the year 
of the Dorr War, which much interfered with the last 
term of his College course. 

My eldest daughter engaged in teaching in the town 
of Norton, continuing in the same school two years, 
while my family remained in Plymouth county. 

Before giving an account of my removal from this my 
field of labor in the ministry, I will mention a few inci- 
dents of importance in life's trials and conquests. 

Some time before leaving West Bridgewater I received 
a letter from a gentleman residing in Connecticut which 



Home, School and Church. 125 

somewhat surprised me, being partially out of the order 
of the business track of the world, but nobly showing up 
the effect of Christianity upon the conscience. The facts 
were: a young man, some years before my leaving Ox- 
ford, entered my school from Thompson, Conn. He was 
a ward of the above-mentioned gentleman, who had 
charge of his property before he became ot age. The 
young man had little disposition to study ; and, as we 
made no provision for those who attended for idle recre- 
ation, he was urged so strongly,- so earnestly, and yet 
kindly, to devote himself to study, that he went away, 
leaving his. bill unpaid. Some two weeks passed, when 
I received a letter from his guardian asking me to send 
his ward's bill. I did so, making it out, as usual, for the 
whole term. A return mail brought the answer, that 
he should pay for the the time he was there, and no more. 
I wrote : " Sir — My regulation is, when a scholar leaves 
on account of sickness, to make the bill for the time he 
was in school ; but if he leaves for other reasons, to 
make no reduction. Such has been my practiced course; 
such my advertised course. I send you my printed ad- 
vertisement. Your ward was not sick; only unwilling to 
study, and left of his own accord. If you are unwilling 
to pay, as do others, please file away this letter as a re- 
ceipt from the beginning of the world to the end thereof." 
I heard no more for some five or six years, when the 
first-named letter from the guardian reached me. It read 
thus: "Dear Sir — I have recently settled with M. N., 
for whom I have been guardian. He feels that he 
wronged you some years ago. He has become a Chris- 



126 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

tian, and wishes the matter right. Enclosed please find 

the amount of the debt and interest. Yours, ." 

Similar to this was a case of conscience in Worcester 
county, Mass., which ceased not to goad the man for 
fifteen years or more. He was a professed Christian, 
and had been for four or five years my tenant. The sub- 
stance of his letter was : " Mr. Stone — At your last set- 
tlement I sat by and saw you cheat yourself out of three 
dollars. I said nothing ; but the thing has troubled me 
ever since. I want to pay you that, and the interest." I 
wrote : " Respected Friend — I commend your obedience 
to the voice of conscience and truth. I shall be in your 
place in a few years. If, as I presume, you will be more 
happy in paying me the three dollars of which you write, 
I will receive it ; but I shall take no interest." On my 
visit there we had a very pleasant meeting. 

I the year 1842 I made up my mind that I had better 
leave for some other field of labor. There was some- 
what of success attending my effort in the church, in the 
Sunday school, in the advance of education, and in tem- 
perance especially ; still I felt that some were, and ever 
would be, cold and ungenial. They were not really op- 
posers, but they would ever remember the defeat, the 
overthrow of the cause to which they had been — yes, 
and were now — at least attached. Another man, taking 
even the same course, would be more genially received, 
and do more good than I could ; and although I was cen- 
sured by some of my ministerial brethren, I resigned my 
position, having served as pastor eight years. 

On leaving West Bridgewater I soon had an invita- 



Home, School and Church. 127 

tion to settle as pastor in Sherborn, Middlesex county, 
Mass., and, accepting the call, was installed in Septem- 
ber of the same year. 

Sherborn was one of the small, thriving towns of New 
England. Farming and fruit-growing was the principal 
business, while a large number were employed in making 
sale shoes, the manufactories of those articles being in 
Natick, three miles, and in Holliston, five miles. 

During my first and second year in that town there 
was quite an awakened interest upon religious subjects, 
and a large in-gathering to the church. More than forty 
consecrated themselves to God during my first year. 

Those unacquainted with New England customs and 
accommodations would be surprised to look upon a 
Massachusetts church in her country towns, with its sur- 
roundings. Sheds, often from three to four hundred feet 
in length, counting thirty or forty in number, and occu- 
pying two sides at least of the church common. These, 
used to protect the horses and carriages from the heat, 
and cold, and storm, became individually known and un- 
derstood, not only by the people, but by the horses, also. 
Those owned several years by one family, when driven 
to the church door and relieved of their load, would go 
directly to their own shed. One family being sick, their 
horse, two miles south of our church, unwilling to stay at 
home on Sunday morning, when he saw the carriages 
and horses going by, jumped out into the road and went 
on in the procession, and took his place in the shed, as 
he had been accustomed. Generally, those persons who 
attended church, and coming with their families in their 



128 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

carriages, did not return home till after the second ser- 
vice. The Sabbath exercises were as follows : preach- 
ing, at 10:30 a. m. ; Sabbath School, at 12 m. or 12:30 
p. m. ; preaching again at 1:30 or 2 p. m. ; prayer meet- 
ing at 7 p. m., not generally attended by those living far 
from the village. For the accommodation of those liv- 
ing at a distance, two weekly prayer meetings were held 
in private houses, sometimes in school-houses in differ- 
ent portions of the town. 

The Sunday School was in good condition, though 
somewhat wanting in life and energy. This difficulty 
was easily overcome and ready assistance given, and dur- 
ing my whole ministry in that place the Sunday School 
was large and prosperous. We have reason to rejoice 
that this institution throughout our land is deepening, 
and widening, and strengthening the foundations of the 
church. 

Political, and scientific, and moral agitations some- 
times beset us with false currents and deceptive eddies 
of error ; and the breezes of speculation, and the wild 
storms of controversy, may show us, away in the distance, 
the dark, rising hills of " Infidelity ; " yet, the founda- 
tions of the American Church will not be shaken. Let 
our children be instructed ; let their habits in early life 
be formed by home influence, by Sunday School instruc- 
tion, and by association with the House of God, and we 
are safe. 

The first six years of individual life, more frequently 
than any other period, forms the character. It is the 
training of children by Mecca's Prophet to-day which 



Home, School and Church. 129 

secures its stability. It was that which, more than 
anything else, preserved the strength of the Jewish 
Church. Their children were instructed when they sat 
down and when they stood up, when they went out 
and when they came in, and this explains the unyielding 
tenacity of their religion. Trace the History of the 
Church, the past and the present. Where do you 
find unbending Christian integrity and the martyr's 
spirit? It is the permanent bias of early education 
which gives .to the Timothys and the Pauls of every age 
their superiority, and to the Protestants, and Puritans, 
and the Covenanters their stability ; and it is the im- 
pression made upon childhood with the Rosary and 
the Cross which give to the Romanists their strength 
and tenacity. An eminent writer has truly said, " Will 
you undertake to reform a man when he is old ? Sooner 
turn the river falling from the mountain side, and bid it 
flow back to its source; sooner reshape the forest by 
turning the trunks of the huge and full-grown trees. No ; 
you must begin at the fountain head — you must com- 
mence with the tender twig." 

Near the close of my labors with this church and 
society I received a present from the teachers of the 
Sunday School, who on the evening of September 9, 
1848, assembled, with many friends, for its presentation. 
The following appeared in the " Christian World : " 

ty " Those who have been conversant with the deep 
interest felt in Sunday School instruction in the Congre- 
gational society at Sherborn will be glad to know that 
Rev. Mr. Stone's services have been well appreciated by 
9 



130 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

the teachers of the school, and that they have testified 
their respect by the gift of a very massive gold pencil." 
" The following mode of presentation was adopted : " 

"ADDRESS OF MISS MARY STONE, ON DELIVERY OF THE 
PRESENT. 

" Respected Pastor — Will you accept this pencil from 
the Sabbath School teachers as a testimony to you for 
those unwearied and judicious labors which have been, 
in so great a measure, crowned with God's blessing in 
promoting the welfare and prosperity of the Sabbath 
School ? " 

REPLY OF THE PASTOR. 

" Dear Madam— -The brief space allotted us for action 
in the arena of life will be to us marked by many impor- 
tant results. The moral and religious character of the 
rising race will be tinged by the education which we 
shall give it. l Feed my lambs,' was the command of 
Jesus. He foresaw the influence of his faithful disciples 
over the ductile mind of childhood. The teachers in our 
Sabbath School have not been unmindful of this influ- 
ence and of the responsible relations which they have 
sustained, and have faithfully and punctually aided me 
in its operations. It has succeeded beyond my expec- 
tations, especially the prompt attendance^which has ever 
characterized its members. I thank you for this valua- 
ble token of your approbation the more, as it exhibits 
your interest in the school; and is a sure pledge of your 
future interest, your prayers and your labors. Whenever 



Home, School and Church. 131 

pastor and teachers are faithful to feed the lambs of 
Christ, they have the assurance of God's blessing; but 
when this is neglected their condemnation will be re- 
corded and their unfaithfulness delineated, not with a 
pencil like this, on the canvass of time, but with the fin- 
ger of God on the tablets of eternity. Be assured, I re- 
ceive this token of your esteem, with the deepest ac- 
knowledgments of your kindness and the warmest sen- 
timents of gratitude." 

Although my views were, on most subjects, in agree- 
ment with those usually termed orthodox, yet I had not 
refused to exchange pulpits with those who truly ac- 
cepted Jesus Christ as a Redeemer and Savior, although 
not agreeing with me in the Divinity of our Savior as 
" God manifest in the flesh." My general views were - 
with the New School Orthodox, and in all my ser- 
mons and writings I aimed at a unity of Spirit wherever 
the "New Birth" or true "soul-renewal" was believed 
and preached. 

In the second year of my ministry at Sherborn an at- 
tempt was made to establish a point that Theodore Par- 
ker was only carrying out the principles of the Liberal 
School, and an able preacher of Boston maintained that, 
while Parker's views, as he said, " were as different from 
his own as the poles of the earth," yet every consistent 
liberal Christian was bound to exchange pulpits and 
receive Parker to his Christian fellowship. 

The subject was discussed in the " New Englander " 
and in the " Christian World." Believing the views taken 
were inconsistent with true Christianity, I wrote my 



132 



Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 



views on these subjects, which were published in a number 
of articles in the " Christian World." There were two posi- 
tions taken by T. Parker and his friend, which I exam- 
ined, and the points growing out of them. 

ist. " We deny there is any doctrine or doctrines " 
(truth or truths) " the belief of which is essentia/ to salva- 
tion." 

2d. " There is no religious doctrine" (truth) " of which 
a man may be so certain as to make it a basis of Christian 
fellowship." 

In the examination of the first position I inquired, 
" What is a doctrine ? " " That which is taught ; " " that 
which is put forth as true." — Webster. "Something 
taught." — yohnso?i. Jesus, in his prayer to the Father, 
.said, " Thy word is truth ; " and that truth is light and 
not darkness. God has attempted to make himself 
known to man by teaching, by Revelation, and has suc- 
ceeded, so that candid men may know and agree upon 
what he has taught. Your correspondent, C, institutes 
the following comparison : " as the hands and feet are 
integral, but not essential parts of a man ; as without 
them he may be a living, though not a complete, perfect 
man ; so, with much error ot opinion, a Christian man 
may be alive, though not a ' perfect man in Christ Jesus.' " 
This I admit. The members of the body, as he has 
done, may be justly compared to truth, or true doctrines, 
some of which are integral. The writer tries his com- 
parison with the hands and feet cut off, and finds that 
the man lives. Now, let him try his comparison with 
the head, the heart, the lungs, and see how it answers 



Home, School and Church. 133 

the purpose of his argument. Because the loss of hands 
and feet will not destroy life, will he contend the loss of 
other members will not? The position we are refuting 
is, " We deny there is any doctrine essential to salva- 
tion." That is original — my opponent's own words. His 
counterpart must be, " We deny there is any member of 
the body essential to /ife." Because that much error of 
opinion will not destroy Christian life, he contends, by 
the arguments deduced from his figure, that no opinion 
will. With as much propriety, therefore, may he con- 
tend for a living man without a head or heart, as for a 
living Christian without a faith in God or a Savior. 
There are, then, truths essential to Christian life and sal- 
vation. Few, there may be, which are absolutely essen- 
tial, but these few comprise the basis of Christian affec- 
tion and Christian life. 

I choose to take my stand on the old line drawn by 
Jesus, and traced in his own blood. " If ye believe not 
that I am he ye shall die in your sins." Upon the line 
on which Paul stood : " Believe on the Lord Jesus 
Christ, and thou shalt be saved." Upon the line 
upOn which John stood : " These things have I written 
unto you that ye may believe on the Son of God." These 
quotations are only specimens of the essentiality of " Be- 
lief," which word, with its derivations, is found in con- 
nection with man's salvation more than two hundred 
times in the New Testament ; and yet, in the face of all 
testimony of Jesus, we are told " that Christianity is not 
a belief but a life, and that there is no doctrine the belief 
of which is essential to salvation." True, Christianity in 



134 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

every child of God is a faith or belief in God and his re- 
vealed truths; and a life, a soul-life, in-dwelling and out- 
gushing, we see as its blessed results. How earnest was 
that disciple whom Jesus loved ! loved for his energy, 
loved for his faith, loved for his truth! How earnest 
was that disciple, that the pure doctrines of Jesus should 
be received in their purity ! Hear his words : " If there 
come any one unto you, and bring not this doctrine, 
receive him not into your house ; neither bid him God- 
speed." This, it would seem, if the teachings of the 
Apostles of Christ are to be received, settles the encourage- 
ment to be given and the course to be pursued. 

Another point in this discussion which should be un- 
derstood is, the class of writers, with one of whom my 
opponent exchanged pulpits, deny the authenticity of 
the Bible altogether as an inspired book. This is a fun- 
damental position of the true Rationalistic School — they 
put aside the authority of the Bible and the teachings of 
the Apostles, and count John and the other writers un- 
worthy of credit. The man, T. Parker, who in America 
stands prominent in their ranks, says of the Apostolic 
writers : 

" They contradict one another, and even themselves, and mingle 
in their story puerile notions, which it is charitable to call absurd." 
" The errors and superstitions of the Apostles could not chain the 
truth." " It is sometimes feared that Christianity is in danger — 
that its days are numbered." " Of the Christianity of the Church, 
it is true; that child of many Fathers cannot die too soon" — "it 
cumbers the ground." (See Dis., pp. 248-313.) 

And yet there were professed believers of the Scrip- 
tures forty years ago who earnestly contended, as did 



Home, School and Church. 135 

my opponent, for the extension of Christian fellowship 
to this class oi preachers generally ; for T. P. particu- 
larly and actually exchanged pulpits with the man of 
whom he wrote, that "His views and Parker's were as 
opposite as the poles of the earth / " 

I shall now consider the second position : "There is no 
religious doctrine of which a man may be so certain as to 
make it a basis of Christian fellowship." The ground, 
then, is, if a man sustains a character of moral honesty, 
and chooses to call himself a Christian, I am bound to 
extend to him Christian fellowship and invite him to my 
pulpit. Nor is this merely a case of supposition. R. 
W. Emerson, a man who has pushed his speculations 
beyond the Bible, and beyond even God himself — who 
has gone to the extent of German Pantheism — was this year 
(1844) invited to address a Sabbath School in the city 
of Boston. A Pantheist, a man who refused to pray in 
one of our churches on the Sabbath when he went there 
to preach, was invited to teach children the way to God 
and heaven. A. B. Alcott has gone even further. I 
have heard him complain of the sectarian character of 
churches who refused to invite him to a seat at the sacra- 
mental table, while he knows, as he declares, that in sev- 
eral respects he has advanced beyond Jesus in purity. 

WHAT IS FELLOWSHIP ? 

Lexicographers say, " agreement," " participation," 
" triendly intercourse, where people contrive and consult 
together about matters of common interest;" "gospel 
fellowship is an agreement in the spirit and faith of the 
gospel, and the means of bringing men under its influ- 



136 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

ence, and is both internal and external." "Internal," 
" that inward sympathy which binds heart to heart by 
similar affections and aspirations." "External," "recep- 
tion of the Lord's Supper; " "uniting in consecration to 
the ministerial office;" " uniting and acting in conven- 
tions and associations ; " " and by exchange of pulpits." 
The expression of fellowship without the internal is but 
a name, and to me repulsive and inconsistent. Please 
note my opponent's words : they are, that " Mr. Parker's 
views of Christianity are more diverse from his own than 
the poles of the earth, for they gravitate toward each 
other, whereas their views are mutally repellant" And 
yet he will invite Mr. Parker to preach in his pulpit to 
souls which much either be saved or lost — to preach, to 
use my opponent's own words, " no gospel at all" but an 
error which must result in damnation, because, if the 
gospel in its belief and spirit to move the soul produces 
salvation, no gospel at all" in its unbelief and spirit to 
move the soul, must produce the reverse, damnation. 

That devoted servant of God, John Colby, now gone 
to his rest, once said: "A ministering brother from an 
adjoining town came and preached for me. His text 
was, ' Believe on the Lord Jesus and thou shalt be 
saved.' During his sermon my soul was deeply moved 
in prayer to God that the solemn truth which he ut- 
tered might take root in the hearts of my people." 
Such must be the feeling and such the prayer of every 
righteous minister while listening to the preaching of a 
brother in his own pulpit. - Let us suppose that T. Par- 
ker preach for my opponent to that flock of whom he is 



Home, School and Church. 137 

pastor — to those parents and children whom, from Sab- 
bath to Sabbath, and from day to day, he carries in the 
arms of faith to the Throne of Grace. Mr. Parker pro- 
ceeds in his sermon, and attempts to prove that the 
miracles of Christ were all a deception. Are the prayers 
of the resident minister ascending up to God that his 
people will be convinced of this ? He attempts to prove 
that Jesus never rose from the dead, that the story grew 
out of jthe credulity of the age, or was a cunningly 
devised fable. Are the prayers of my opponent winging 
their way to the Throne of Grace that his flock may 
receive this as truth ? He tells them that the New Testa- 
ment is no more inspired than a?iy other book — that the 
idea of a Savior, a Mediator, and the forgiveness of sin 
are the vagaries of a barbarous age. Is the minister now 
sitting in the pulpit praying that this seed may take root 
among his people? It would be a libel upon his good 
sense and candor to believe it. Now, is there any inter- 
nal fellowship upon these pillars of our Christian faith 
between these two men? Supposing them both honest 
in what they profess, there is not the least ; and any 
exhibition of it is — I had almost called it by a bad name — 
at least wrong. Now, suppose a stranger be one of that 
congregation, what will he think of those two men in 
that pulpit-together, and Parker there by the invitation 
of the resident minister? The sermon closes. If the 
minister arise and express a full dissent, the stranger will 
look up and feel, if he does not say, " Sir, you ought not 
to have invited him here to sow broadcast the seed of a 
dangerous error ! " If the minister say nothing, he will 



138 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

then suppose that he is a fellow-laborer in sowing the 
same seed. The conclusion, therefore, which we reach, 
both from the Scriptures and common sense, is that 
moral virtue and Christia?iity are based on essential 
truth ; and if a man objects, as does my opponent, to 
every form of Christian belief as a basis of fellowship, he 
is bound by the line of consistency to extend his fellow- 
ship to every one who chooses to call himself a Christian. 
Parker, believing " Jesus the greatest soul swathed in hu- 
man flesh" yet fallible and sinful ; Emerson, saying there 
is no God but Nature : man is Nature's highest exhibi- 
tion — therefore, man is God; Alcott, placing himself sev- 
eral steps i?i adva?ice of Jesus ; and Voltaire, saying of the 
blessed Savior, "Crush the wretch / " — all have a right to 
claim fellowship and the use of every Protestant pulpit. 
In C.'s next article he writes ot the exclusive system 
which I advocate ; tells us " that I know that ' heresy ' 
means ' sectarianism,' and Parker has made no sect ; " 
u charges me with securing a Waterloo victory at a small 
expense ; " says " he does not desire to be understood as 
wishing to admit to our pulpits every man who claims 
to be a Christian, but that every case must be judged by 
its own merits." He thinks my articles exhibit a " spirit 
of assumed superiority," and says, " Let them pass for 
what they are worth." He then goes on to tell me what, 
as a " master in Israel," I ought to know (no assumption 
of superiority here), but passes in silence Paul's excom- 
munication of Hymeneus and Alexander — not for im- 
moral conduct, but because they had made shipwreck 
of the faith ; cavils on distinctions between truths and 



Home, School and Church. 139 

doctrines — between belief and faith — and thus attempts 
to escape the force of my conclusions. 

I again replied to his third article as follows : When I 
first took up my pen to express my dissent from the views 
of my Brother C, I did not expect so many columns of 
the " Christian World " would have been occupied in 
the discussion. I do not regret, however, that the im- 
portant principle which it involves has been so thoroughly 
canvassed. I am not writing, as my brother would inti- 
mate, to " gain a Waterloo victory," neither do I feel 
that I am contending with a Napoleon. I believe, and 
therefore have I written. I regret also that he should 
discover, as he thought, a spirit of assumed superiority. 
He saw what is not there, unless the words belie the heart. 
I have written plainly — I intended to write plainly — 
and have fearlessly pushed his arguments and positions 
to their conclusions ; but the " superiority " lies not in 
the writers but in the positions taken, he, unfortunately, 
being on the weak side. 

It would seem, from some of my opponent's remarks, 
that withholding Christian fellowship is identical with 
denying Mr. Parker's rights as a man. Not at all. He 
and those of the same school have a full right to investi- 
gate, and publish, and preach, and build lecture rooms, 
and gather societies, if they can. They have a right to 
our Christian charity, and candor, and sympathy as mem- 
bers of the great brotherhood. Our holy religion enjoins 
it upon us to do them good and not evil. The apostle 
John did not deny to the Gnostics the right of God's 
freemen to examine truth ; but he did forbid their Chris- 



140 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

tian fellowship, or any act which, countenanced or encour- 
aged their error ! While we acknowledge Mr. P.'s rights, 
we claim to have some rights also. We claim the right 
to say, " You must not occupy pulpits which have been 
consecrated to a justifying, redeeming Savior, in order 
to breathe out your anathemas against him. You must 
not use our churches to destroy those scriptural truths 
for the preservation of which these very churches were 
built. We did not erect them in order to argue the point 
whether there is a God or not — whether there is a Sa- 
vior or not. We believe there is a God and a Savior, 
and we have built these houses in which to worship him. 
We claim the right, in the spirit of our Master, to do 
what we will with our own. He who objects to this 
view is the real exclusionist, the one who is so fond of 
judging another man's servant. It is not that we deny 
them the right to preach their views, if they can get 
hearers, but we do deny them the right to make us aiders 
and abettors in the work by granting them our pulpits. 
When my opponent asserts that truth is one thing, and 
doctrine is another, I am* at a loss to know what he means. 
I had always thought that a true doctrine was truth, and 
a false doctrine falsehood, but by his logic it is not. I 
ask my opponent one question, Is it possible to state any 
essential truth intelligibly ? If he answers, " Yes," he 
has abandoned his position. If he answers, " No," alas 
for the value of our heads and tongues, for we might as 
well have been dumb, and parents need no longer chastise 
their children for not telling the truth! Leaving my 
opponent to enjoy all the advantages of his hair-splitting 



Home, School and Church. 141 

argument between doctrine and truth, and between faith 
and belief, I notice his criticism on the word translated 
Doctrine, which he tells me u I ought to know means con- 
duct," as well as " opinion." I confess I do not know 
it, neither does the lexicographers know it. See the word 
Aidaxri, as denned by one of our best lexicographers — "a 
teaching" — " instruction " — " doctrine " — " learning " — are 
the only definitions of" Pickering ; " and the root, AidaotcG), 
from which the word is a derivative, means — " to teach " — 
"instruct" — -"cause to learn" — "to show" — "to prove." 
I wish my readers to examine the 7th, 8th and 9th 
verses of this Second Epistle of John. It requires no 
knowledge of Greek, only unprejudiced "common sense" 
to see that he speaks of the doctrine, that " Jesus had 
come in the flesh. " More than this, an examination of 
the Greek text, as above, fully and triumphantly sustains 
the present reading. But he argues that the next verse, 
i. <?., the nth verse, shows that it is evil deeds, and not 
doctrines, which the Apostle is writing against. But will 
not my opponent look to the meaning of the word epyocg, 
translated " Deeds " ? It means not only work, but labor, 
business, occupation. Hence the Apostle's meaning is, 
he that bid him Godspeed becomes a partaker of his evil 
labors, his evil business, his evil occupation. Is not 
preaching a false doctrine an evil act — a doctrine which 
will destroy the soul ? Did my opponent understand 
this subject when he penned his second reply ? He 
surely is not one of that class whom Cowper describes 
as the men who 

"Go wrong by an ingenious skill." 



142 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

It may be well for the most learned city minister to occa- 
sionally look into his lexicon before he attempts to teach 
his more ignorant country brethren " what they onglit to 
know." 

I pursue this discussion no further. The extracts last 
quoted were from the last article written by us upon the 
subject, and were not answered. 

I quote a few paragraphs from the editorial of the 
"Christian World" the week following: "Our readers 
have had presented to them, in several successive num- 
bers of this journal, a controversy between J. F. C. and 
R. C. S. It grew out of certain positions taken by the 
former in relation to creeds and fellowship while answer- 
ing an article in the " New Englander." He maintained 
in his article that he was bound to hold Christian fellow- 
ship with any man of good moral character, who claimed 
to be a Christian, independent of any skeptical views 
that he might hold. He has insisted on perfect frank- 
ness both in and out of the pulpit, and therefore we do 
not hesitate to declare our dissent to his views in this 
controversy, as unscriptural, illogical, and- therefore; to 
say the least, unwise." 

"R. C. S., on the other hand, has, as we think, sus- 
tained himself with admirable skill in stating his case, 
and in the reasons and illustrations which he has brought 
in support of it." 

The closing of this discussion opened my eyes in some 
degree to the tendencies of the liberal school in all its 
various shades. A development, which seemed to me a 
downward tendency, had been truly manifest during the 



Home, School and Church. 143 

last ten years, and impressed my mind more than ever 
of avoiding every course which may be misunderstood 
and lead others in a downward course. 

There was little to specially interest in the steady, for- 
ward movement of our church and society, except that 
death was busy in our midst. Within the first three 
years I attended the funerals of seven young ladies, from 
that fatal disease consumption. The Sunday following 
the last of the seven, I preached a sermon, in which I 
reviewed our town history in this respect, and, in its past 
and present record, asked and earnestly invited the young 
especially to consecrate themselves to God. One young 
lady, almost the last of the seven, at evening, three days 
before she passed over the river, with some fifteen inti- 
mate young friends, received in her sick chamber the 
Sacrament of the Lord's Supper. A sweet stillness, as 
at the threshold of the spirit world, pervaded the cham- 
ber, as the soft, sweet voices of a few friends died away 
in the closing hymn, and we all withdrew, feeling that 
we had been very near to those mansions prepared by 
the blessed Savior for the pure and the good. The next 
morning I called at the sick room; she lay upon the 
bed, pale and feeble, but her countenance was the very 
personification of resignation and peace. I took her 
hand, saying, " Well, Abbie, you are almost within the 
mansions of the blest." With a smile upon her face that 
1 shall never forget, her eyes looking away toward the 
beautiful morning radiance, then full in her view, she 
replied, " Truly, I am, and O how bright ! " 

An unusual circumstance occurred in the conversion 



144 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

of a man who had for years been a most confirmed 
skeptic. Some five years before I made his acquaint- 
ance a little child of his fell sick and died. He had no 
Bible in his house, and he would have no minister attend 
the funeral of his child, and they laid the little one away 
in its cold and sleeping bed without a benediction and 
without a prayer. But he was consistent. If the Bible 
is a deception and Christianity is a falsehood, O save 
me from deception and falsehood while the sleeping dust 
of my child remains unburied ! A few years after his 
aged mother, old and ripe for heaven, was laid upon her 
dying bed. A messenger called, and the same day he 
stood beside her in her sick room. On his arrival she 
looked up, saying, " O Thomas, is that you ? Do pre- 
pare to meet me in heaven ! " " I smiled in scorn," said 
he, " upon that dying mother, and returned from her 
funeral as confirmed a skeptic as before." Some few 
years after, while meditating upon the past, he thought 
of that mother when he was a little boy \ he remembered 
that she had kneeled beside his bed and prayed for him ; 
he remembered her sweet words; he had seen a tear 
start from her eye as she kissed him ; he remembered 
that he, when a little boy, used to say Watt's child's 
prayer, "Now I lay ?ne down to sleep, 1 pay the Lord my 
soul to keep." Was there any Lord ? He thought of 
the thousands of great and good men who lived and 
died happy in a belief in that Lord, and he made up his 
mind that it was he who had been the fool in saying " there 
is no God." In earnest penitence he consecrated himself 
to his Redeemer, and stood forth as a disciple of Christ. 



Home, School and Church. 145 



CHAPTER IV. 

The subject of Temperance in this town demanded the 
attention of every lover of virtue, although no licenses 
were granted in the county. This fact, however, was no 
security, and the liquor sellers, or rumsellers, as they were 
usually called, boldly bade defiance to the laws for sup- 
pressing the traffic. I had frequently conversed with the 
church officers and leading men and women in the town, 
and the impression was, the Leader in the traffic could 
not be reached. His sales were extensive, and all the 
topers in the adjoining towns came to Sherborn to have 
their rundlets, and jugs, and bottles filled. I knew some- 
thing of the condition of things in this place, as I lec- 
tured here upon temperance ten years before, and this 
same man was in the same business then. I called upon 
him during my first year, and we had a friendly conver- 
sation, for he professed to hold drunkenness in abhor- 
rence, though subsequently I learned it was all pretense. 

I was especially called to a consideration of this sub- 
ject by the sudden death of a man, about thirty years of 
age, whose death was the direct result of intoxication. 
I was called to attend his funeral. It was a trying case. 
What should I do ? I earnestly sought my duty of my 
Heavenly Father, and came to the conclusion that the 
circumstances demanded a loving but fearless expression 
of truth. He was buried from his own house. The 
house was filled, and I spoke plainly but kindly of the 

cause of the man's death — in the presence of his widow 
10 



146 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and orphans — in the presence of an aged father and 
mother — in the presence of two brothers, the one a rum- 
seller the other a drunkard — I urged abstinence from all 
that intoxicates, as the only safe course, and delineated 
the evils and the heart-rending miseries of the liquor 
traffic, even to the shedding of many tears. I felt anx- 
ious for the consequences. I had never at any funeral, 
of a similar character, spoken so plainly. The widow, 
sad, but not disturbed, resolved to start in the right way. 
The father and mother were grieved, but felt my words 
were true. The mother was a Christian ; the father re- 
solved to live for heaven, and often bore his public tes- 
timony in behalf of truth. The intemperate brother 
pledged himself within the year, and lived and died a 
sober man. It was at his father's house, his own home, 
where he gave me his hand as a pledge of total absti- 
nence. It happened that just two years to a day I was 
there again ; and in conversation inquired as to his health 
and success as a sober man. He replied : " Mr. Stone, 
just two years ago to-day, in this room, I promised you I 
would never again taste intoxicating liquor, and I never 
have ! " The rumselling brother was the only one 
offended. He talked somewhat angrily, blaming me 
for choosing such a time for such a discourse, but it 
produced no lasting emotion; and his wife within the 
year gave her heart to God and became a member of 
the church of which I was pastor. 

Some time after this, at a temperance meeting, the two 
settled pastors of the churches and a deacon from each 
church were chosen a committee to confer with the 



Home, School and Church. 147 

liquor sellers, and make a strong effort, by arrangement, 
or by prosecution, to stop the traffic. Of this committee 
I was chosen the chairman. Our efforts were all directed 
to this "king of the traffic " in Sherborn, and in Middle- 
sex county. He was a man of general intelligence, had 
been a successful steamboat captain in the vicinity of 
New Orleans, was a man of large means, and as much 
will as he had money. We had six or eight conversa- 
tions with him, as a committee or individually, in all 
of which he met us genially, and professed a wish to 
avoid a law collision if possible. One day I said to him, 
" Captain, many people here believe your determination 
to sell liquor so strong that you would spend almost your 
whole property rather than yield the point. I tell them 
they are mistaken ; you are not so unwise. A few cases 
brought to bear, with the legal fine of only ten dollars 
and costs, would soon lead you to a different course." 
He smiled, saying, " You are right." 

Becoming satisfied that no arrangement could be made, 
and having that day taken a jug of rum from a near 
neighbor, whose family I had been often called to pro- 
tect from his drunken cruelty, the rum being sold con- 
trary to his express promise, made to me within two days, 
that he would sell him no more; we thought further con- 
ference and delay would be of no avail. I called at his 
store, and, after a pleasant " Good morning," the follow- 
ing dialogue ensued: S. — "Captain, we have had many 
interviews on the subject of your liquor traffic." C. — 
"We have, indeed, and very pleasant conversations." 
S. — " Yes, all pleasant. You know I have told you that 



148 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

we thought of commencing prosecutions, and now" — 
C. — "You have concluded to do it ? " S. — " We have." 
C — " Go out of my store." S. — " Very willingly." (I 
walked out into the street, and, turning, faced him). 
" Captain, you can neither scare me, nor drive me, nor 
make me mad. We intend to stop your selling liquor." 
C. — u Stop my selling liquor ! By — ." S. — " Be care- 
ful, Captain, do not swear by anything too large, for we 
shall make you take it back. We shall stop your sell- 
ing liquor, or take some of your money to help support 
the paupers you have made." 

We entered a complaint, brought him before a justice 
of the peace, put our witness on the stand, who swore 
squarely that the article sold him was rum. He was 
fined ten dollars* and the costs of prosecution. He 
immediately took an appeal to the County Court, and 
four weeks brought us to the regular term. When the 
case was called, his counsel — a no less man than Ben 
Butler — took exceptions to the warrant ; and those excep- 
tions being sustained by the judge, the decision was set 
aside. The Captain and his friends, in a state of tri- 
umph, returned from Lowell, while the temperance party 
were, as the conquerors expressed it, " feeling rather 
blue." 

The next morning iound me in consultation with the 
"County Attorney," or " Prosecuting Officer" for Mid- 
dlesex. I inquired. "Is there a form of warrant that will 
stand against the cavils, and arguments, and exceptions 
of the strongest criminal lawyer of the Middlesex Bar ? " 

*The largest fine in the County Courts. 



Home, School and Church. 149 

He assured me there was. "Not the least doubt" The 
attorney then gave me a form, with general directions, 
saying, " You can manage these cases yourself, and save 
to your people the expense of a lawyer; "and if he ap- 
peal I shall take charge of them, of course, when they 
are called in the County Court. Look well to your 
proof." We had been for the last month looking among 
those who were coming, to and going from this general 
fountain of liquid fire for witnesses who would, under 
oath, speak the truth. On many we could place no 
dependence. Place them on the stand, they knew noth- 
ing ; could testify to nothing ; did not know what they 
drank; had forgotten what they asked for. One man 
said he called for " sal soda ; " could not swear what he 
got; he expected it was "sal soda." Others could not 
remember if they paid or not. A few were found who 
stood up square and testified to the truth. 

Again we commenced our prosecutions, following the 
course recommended, and managing the cases ourselves. 
We first looked for our former witness who had sworn 
so squarely on a former occasion, intending to arrest the 
rumseller for the same sale on a better warrant ; but lo ! 
he was gone — had departed between two days, no one 
knew where, while circumstances unmistakably showed 
that he had been bought up and sent off. We were not 
at all disturbed, as his purchase and removal had used 
up more money than the amount of the fine and costs. 

Another warrant and an arrest the succeeding day fol- 
lowed, and notwithstanding the Captain employed an 
able attorney from Natick, who managed his case with 



150 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

much skill, yet he was fined ten dollars and the costs of 
prosecution. On this he took an appeal. That evening, 
after the conviction, I rode fourteen miles, with a copy 
of the papers, to lay our proceedings before the " County 
Attorney," who, on examination, assured me "everything 
was right" Suit after suit now followed, managed by 
the same young lawyer, whose legal knowledge and 
practical skill reflected upon him much credit, except 
that his zeal for his success occasionally kindled up a 
counsel-fire which scorched himself and client more 
severely than any one else. 

We had been engaged some five weeks — two suits per 
week being about our regular legal run — and now, in 
Sherborn Town Hall, we were before a large assemblage, 
trying the tenth or eleventh case, every one of which 
had been decided against the rumseller. At this trial 
the young lawyer, kindling with the fire of his own ten- 
derness, appealed to the sympathy of the court to put a 
stop to this cruel persecution. " This," said he, " is the 
tenth or eleventh time my client has been taken trom his 
business and family at the instance of one man, the head 
and leader of this cruel persecution, who, caring nothing 
for the principles concerning which he is contending, is 
only desirous of trampling his opponent in the dust. In 
doing this he has gathered around him the filth and off- 
scourings of the adjoining towns — men whose testimony 
ought to be set aside in any court of justice — testimony 
which, in the name of justice, I ask your honor to set 
aside as unworthy of credit." 

I was surprised at this outburst of violence, as nothing 



Home, School and Church. 151 

of the kind had before escaped from his lips, and more 
especially, as some fifteen years before, while living in 
Oxford, I had lectured on temperance, both in South 
Natick and in Natick, the place where this young man 
was born and had been reared. 

In my closing plea before the court I said : " I am 
astonished at the remarks of the defendant's counsel, in 
styling complaints against a law-breaker, against one 
who is daily trampling the law of the State under his 
feet, l a cruel persecution? He has appealed to your 
sympathy, in behalf of his family, to save him from the 
cruel persecutions with which he is followed. Sir, I look 
at this matter in connection with his family in a very 
different light ; and were I to ask you for the extension of 
sympathetic tenderness, I should say, ' Save that family, 
save that noble boy, save those lovely girls from the influ- 
ence and the curse of a rumselling father, by allowing 
the law, which he is daily trampling in the dust, to take 
its effect in saving both him and them ! ' That young 
man has told you that I am alone in these complaints 
against this man. . I call upon this committee, who are 
before you, to rise, and before this house, and before your 
honor, to nail this misrepresentation to the forehead of 
that young man forever. Further than this, he charges 
me with caring nothing for the principles for which I am 
contending — only desirous of 'trampling his client in the 
dust.' Your honor, I have been for nearly twenty years 
engaged in promoting the cause of total abstinence, and 
to-day is the first time I have been charged with recre- 
ancy to its principles. Fifteen years ago I addressed an 



152 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

audience in the town, the birthplace of that young man. 
Yes, your honor, before he had exchanged the frock and 
pantalets for the coat and pantaloons, before he had 
exchanged the pap-spoon for the cigar, I was laboring to 
promote those principles which he is helping to destroy ; 
and having toiled on, and on, in the temperance cause 
from my early manhood up, having grown gray amid its 
labors and struggles, I stand before you to be charged 
with dishonesty and selfishness by a rumseller's hireling ! 
Again, the men who are called here as witnesses are 
charged with being the 'filth and offscourings of the 
adjoining towns.' If this is true, why does he not im- 
peach their integrity? They stand before your honor 
not only unimpeached, but unimpeachable, or that man's 
zeal, and that man's energy, and that man's money 
(pointing to the rumseller) would have done it. The 
witnesses are strangers to me ; but I say, your honor, 
they are unimpeachable, or their character for perjury 
and dishonesty would have been shown up before you. 
I am charged with instituting a 'cruel persecution' 
against this rumseller. Your honor, this committee only 
ask that these suits each shall be met, as the State law 
requires, with ten dollars and costs, and an assurance 
given that he cease the sale of intoxicating liquors, and 
all prosecutions shall stop at once — not another com- 
plaint made — not another warrant issued. But if these 
conditions are not met he may rest assured that the law- 
supporters will be upon his track, and sooner or later 
bring him to justice." 

This case was decided in favor of the committee, and 



Home, School and Church. 153 

other suits instituted, until thirteen warrants were fastened 
upon him. An arrangement was then made that he should 
pay the fines of ten dollars each on seven, and the costs 
on the whole thirteen, and give a bond, or some writing 
drawn up by the County Attorney, to abandon the sale. 
This he really and truly did, as also did the small 
traders, and no liquor shop or saloon has ever since been 
opened in the town of Sherborn. 

In justice to the young attorney I will say, that his 
attack upon the chairman of the committee, and upon 
the witnesses for the prosecution, as here related, was an 
ebullition of passion, growing out of an ardent tempera- 
ment and his continued defeats. It was by him deeply 
regretted, as he had the manly and noble resolution to 
say to me after his wrath had time to cool. 

During the progress of these trials the following article 
appeared in the " Cataract and Standard : " 

" INTEMPERANCE "—"ARSON "— " SUICIDE." 

" Mr. Editor : A shocking occurrence transpired in 
Natick (some half mile from Sherborn line) last Monday 
morning. A man by the name of Titus shot himself, 
about ten feet from his own door. He came to that 
place some twelve or fifteen years since, an active, enter- 
prising young man, and was employed by a respectable 
moderate drinker. His employer was a man possessing 
many excellent qualities, but a steady and sturdy opposer 
of all temperance efforts. The young man's appetite 
increased — in short, he became a drunkard. About eight 
months since he again applied for employment. His 



154 Life-Incidents of R. C . Stone. 

former employer said to him, ' What do you want I should 
hire you to do? — drink rum?' Stung to the quick, he 
replied, ' Well, if I am a drunkard I learned it of my old 
master!' He left him in anger. That night his em- 
ployer's shop, barn, hay, and stock, valued at five 
thousand dollars, were reduced to ashes, with only an 
insurance of two thousand. Circumstances conspired to 
fix suspicion upon Titus. A reward was offered for the 
incendiary. On Monday morning he applied the fatal 
weapon to his heart, leaving the rumsellers who have 
furnished him with liquors, and the moderate dri?ikers who 
have encouraged him to drink them, to meditate upon 
their work, and to meet him at a higher tribunal than an 
earthly court, or the bar of public opinion. 

" Veritas." 

Another article appeared in the same paper about the 
time the arrangements were made and the suits closed up. 

LEGAL SUASION IN SHERBORN. 

Mr. Editor: The inhabitants of Sherborn have at 
length made a strong and effective effort to rid their 
town of the curse of rumselling. Moral suasion, although 
applied with care and perseverance, has failed to stop 
the current of rum, which has not only cursed the inhabi- 
tants of that town, but of all the adjoining towns. A rich 
rumseller (I omit his name; it was in the published arti- 
ticle) has braved public opinion, disregarded the entrea- 
ties of wives and children rendered miserable by his 
traffic, defied the laws of the State, and scorned every 



Home, School and Church. 155 

persuasive attempt to influence him to change his course. 
A prosecuting committee has been chosen, and faithfully 
and fearlessly have they performed their duty. On many 
complaints he has been tried and convicted. On seven 
he has been called by appeal to a higher court, and, not 
daring to meet the facts, was defaulted. But the rum 
tide has been stopped. The commision merchants who 
have infested the town from abroad, bringing their rund- 
lets and jugs to this den of pollution, have disappeared ; 
the rumseller himself, although he has not " turned pale" 
yet fears the law with which he is becoming quite familiar. 
These prosecutions, so effective upon the rumseller, have 
produced in the town a tremendous excitement. The 
satellites of this " fire-king " revolve about with increased 
velocity and brightness. Threats have been bandied, 
and the usual amount of falsehood in such cases has 
been put afloat on the current of life. A portion of 
young trees, in a beautiful young orchard, belonging to 
Rev. Mr. Stone, have been cut and broken off, and 
other alcoholic manifestations usual among the fraternity. 
God speed the temperance people of Sherborn and their 
efficient committee in breaking up this den of pollution, 
and freeing Middlesex county from one of the greatest 
evils with which it has been cursed for the last ten 
years. G. O. 

Natick, July 4th, 1848. 

About the time of my closing my labors with the First 
Congregational Church the following presentation took 
place : 



156 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

" CATARACT AND STANDARD." 

That Stone and Silver Pitcher for Cold Water 

in Sherborn. 

Among those clergymen who, as consistent, active and 
devoted friends and advocates of temperance, are setting 
good examples to their professional brethren, and to all 
other members of the community, is the Rev. R. C. Stone, 
of Sherborn. He was appointed, and has been for some 
considerable time efficiently acting as chairman of a 
prosecuting committee to stop the lawless traffic of in- 
toxicating drinks in that place. He has, of course, had 
a hard battle to fight, but in the hottest of the conflict, 
has had the cheering and sustaining sanction, co-opera- 
tion and sympathy of all good men and good women of 
Sherborn ; and particularly so of the teetotal ladies and 
gentlemen of his own church. On the evening of Wed- 
nesday, the 23d of August last, they assembled at his 
house to the number of one hundred or more, and, in 
connection with the following appropriate addresses and 
responses, both prose and metrical, and other exercises, 
presented him a splended silver pitcher, bearing this 
inscription, viz. : 

REV. R. C. STONE, 

Presented by the Ladies of Sherborn for Devoted Efforts 
in the Cause of Tet?ipera?ice. 

In the early part of the evening the following saluta- 
tory and responsive stanzas, composed for the occasion, 
were sung to the good old tune of Auld Lang Syne: 



Home, School and Church. 157 

parishional and pastoral greetings. 

By the Visitors. 

From many happy homes we come, 

With cheerful hearts we meet, 
And friendly hands are clasped once more, 

And friendly voices greet. 
Our pastor and his family 

We joy once more to join, 
And look with smiling pleasure on 

The days of Auld Lang Syne. 

By the Pastor and Family. 

We hail our friends together met, 

In this auspicious hour, 
And bless our Heavenly Father, clothed 

In majesty and power. 
With joy your greetings we return, 

And in our hearts enshrine 
The friendship dear we here have felt 

In days of Auld Lang Syne. 

By the Visitors. 

Go, laborers in the cause of Truth, 

Go, raise the banner high, 
And bear the cup of love to check 

The mourner's heaving sigh. 
Go lead the temperance army on, 

'Till every heart combine 
To 'scape the clouds that o'er us hung 

In the days of Auld Lang Syne. 

By the Pastor and Family. 

Yes, Christian friends, we'll all unite 

And send to heaven this day 
One heart, one soul, one mind, one prayer, 

One holy, kindling lay, 



158 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

That temperance, freedom, peace and love 

May never here decline, 
But bear the glorious banner raised 

In the days of Auld Lang Syne. 

PRESENTATIONARY ADDRESS BY MRS. REBECCA E. BIGELOW. 

Rev. Sir — We have gathered here for the purpose of 
presenting you with some testimonial of our personal 
regard for your manly and unwearied efforts in the tem- 
perance cause. We well know the sacrifice you have 
made of your own personal interest for the good of 
others, and we take this occasion to present you this 
pitcher as a manifestation of our respect. Accept it 
sir, as a memento of our grateful acknowledgement of 
your past services, and may this token of our esteem for 
your fidelity, and true principles of action, be an incen- 
tive to new zeal and greater exertion in the cause. Per- 
mit me, sir, in the name and in behalf of those I represent, 
to present you this pitcher. Receive it, sir, as a reward 
of merit. May its presence be a solace in difficulties and 
disappointments, and its inscription remind you that noble 
actions and lofty purposes are not disregarded b)' us, and 
will never lose their reward. 

REV. MR. STONE'S REPLY. 

Dear Madam — In receiving from you this valuable 
expression of our regard, in behalf of the ladies of my 
congregation, there are many considerations which tend 
to enhance the value of the gift; among these the subject 
which especially called it forth, and the large number 
who contributed to its purchase, Dear a prominent part. 
The cause of temperance is the cause of humanity, and 



Home, School and Church. 159 

meets a warm response in every philanthropic heart ; and 
a consciousness that my humble labors meet your en- 
couragement, and are in some degree checking the tide of 
vice which has been rolling in upon us, is a rich compen- 
sation for all the sacrifices which I have been called to 
make; and this expression of your sympathy will both 
now and ever cheer my way, lighten my toil, and nerve 
my arm to labor on. The pitcher and the lamp were the 
only weapons with which Gideon of old stormed the 
Midian camp. The pitcher may be considered an emblem 
of power, the lamp of truth. May this token of your 
esteem, united with truth and right, be as successful in 
overwhelming the enemies of temperance as was Gideon 
in vanquishing the enemies of his nation ! This pitcher 
is no transient expression of virtuous principles. Its 
inscription will be read by eyes which have never yet 
opened upon the light, and it will bear the sparkling 
water which God has created to unborn lips, when we 
who now join in these scenes, and mingle together our 
sympathies, shall lie cold and silent in death. Where- 
ever this emblem of your regard is carried, wherever this 
inscription is read, it will be a memento of your virtue, 
and encourage others to battle in the cause of humanity. 
For this token of your esteem, accept my deepest grati- 
tude, my warmest thanks. 

The grand result was gained : the sale of intoxicating 
drinks was closed up in Sherborn beyond the prospect 
of a renewal, but the defeated party instituted rather 
secretly an opposition; not against temperance, but 
against me. Every matter in which I had, with more 



160 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

or less interest, been engaged, was, in private conversa- 
tion, cautiously urged against me. My views in oppo- 
sition to transcendental writers were a cause of censure 
with one class. My anti-slavery proclivities were, with 
another class, horrible, and would overturn our nation. 
My exclusive views with regard to Christian fellowship 
was narrow-minded. My opposing views to the Dorr 
Rebellion in my native State, which, during the year 
1842, was discussed in our lyceum, was reviewed and 
said to be anti-republican, and destructive of civil liberty. 
These matters, bearing more or less on my popularity, 
I learned were, by a few men, for six months carefully 
talked over, and whenever it would bear it was sealed with 
the condemnation of my unyielding course in stopping 
the liquor traffic. The religious society enrollment law 
took into the old, or First Society, every man who saw 
fit to enrol his name, if he had not joined elsewhere. 
There were some of this class in every town — men who 
believed nothing — paid nothing — did nothing — but still 
legally belonged to the old society, and the society, not 
the church, controlled the pastoral settlement. These 
men were all looked up, twenty or more ; many oi them 
had not been in the church, to attend public worship, for 
twenty years ! Nearly every one of them was found to 
be my opposers by alcoholic right, and each one wishing 
for liberty to eat and drink what he pleased. A society 
meeting was called ; about eighty votes, as I was in- 
formed, were cast, and a majority of five or six to grant 
me a dismission — a large majority of the church voting 
for my continuance. 



Home, School and Church. 161 

In this state of affairs a church meeting was called, 
the condition of matters discussed, and it was unani- 
mously deemed expedient to circulate papers and ascer ■ 
tain by actual signatures who were favorable to a with- 
drawal from the old church organization and to the 
formation of a new. This was soon done, and forty-two 
families were found desirous of coming into the new 
organization. With no delay the organization was com- 
pleted, and a small church or chapel, with a basement, 
finished and dedicated. Our new church was called 
" Independent Congregational," though / had united 
with the Wesleyans, a newly organized body from sev- 
eral denominations, mostly Methodist. The Wesleyan 
Church grew out of the opposition of the leading sects 
to action and discussion upon subjects connected with 
slavery, but -has, since the Proclamation of President 
Lincoln, been in its aims and objects fully met, and its 
existence no longer called for. This action of our church 
and its results produced the most intensely bitter feeling. 
The rum party, as they were called, were men of energy 
and perseverance. The rumseller himself, still and quiet, 
put in motion the propellers and paddlewheels of a 
mighty force, and slanders, and libels, and threats hissed 
through the air and sparkled all around. In some cases 
I deemed it necessary to commence suits in courts of 
chancery, of criminal and civil jurisprudence, which 
made some flutter among the birds of evil omen. One 
of these leading spirits, fearing results, set out for Cali- 
fornia, but died on the way. Another of their most 
scintillating, sparkling satellites, within the year, moved 



1 62 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

to an adjoining town, and within a few months died. 
Another, one of the most reckless, who, in the first move- 
ments, destroyed my apple trees, was indicted for libel by 
the " Grand Jury," and escaping from the officer, leaving 
his family and farm, made his way to California, from 
whence he has never returned. Some other civil suits 
which I commenced failed of proof, the witness swearing 
that in testifying to the facts elicited he should criminate 
himself. And thus the civil suits were withdrawn, find- 
ing the proof of facts to be very difficult when depending 
on perjurers to convict slanderers whose mutual interest 
binds all together. I remained three years pastor of this 
new church, though tfne of the years I also had charge 
of a church in the city of Providence, laboring there half 
of the time, assisted by a young man. 

From the " Christian World." 

" Installation. — Rev. James L. Stone, formerly of 
Mansfield, was installed minister of the ancient society 
in Brewster, which, for some more than forty years, was 
under the care of the late \enerable and excellent Mr. 
Simpkins. The introductory prayer by the Rev. Mr. 
Palfrey, of Barnstable. Selections from Scripture and ser- 
mon by Rev. R. C. Stone, father of him who was installed. 
The sermon was from the words, ' What is truth ? " The 
relation of the preacher to the candidate for installation 
gave an opportunity for a deep expression of Christian 
interest and faithful parental counsel, which was well and 
truly improved, even to the flowing of many tears from 
those who heard. It may be sufficient to add, that the 



r 
Home, School and Church. 163 

sermon bore strong testimony against the latitudinari- 
anism of some, and the lukewarmness of others at the 
present day. Prayer of installation by Rev. Mr. Wight, 
of Dennis. Charge by Rev. Mr. Palfrey was one of 
uncommon interest. Fellowship of the churches and 
address to church and society, by Mr. Thomas (your 
correspondent), and the concluding prayer, Rev. Mr. 
Pratt, an esteemed and aged minister of Brewster. 
Meetings of great interest were held on Tuesday previ- 
ous, at which faithful and quickening exhortations were 
heard from the clergy and laity. On the evening of 
Wednesday a sermon was delivered by the senior Mr. 
Stone, and the Communion administered by your corres- 
pondent. It was a meeting of deep, affectionate and 
solemn interest, and it seemed good for us to be there. 
I might further speak of the exposure of some of us to a 
severe gale on our return, by which our passage was pro- 
longed from Thursday until the next Monday, but time 
will not permit. I will only add a brief expression of 
our gratitude for the full, free and cordial hospitality with 
which we were welcomed by our friends in Brewster." 

The next year I had a call to the Wesleyan Church, 
in the city of Boston. This was during the most excit- 
ing time in the active operation of the " Fugitive Slave 
Law." The church was small and poor, but known to 
be in strong sympathy with the slave. My family lived 
sixteen miles out of the city, I having a season ticket 
enabling me to ride on any train (there were six or eight 
daily) if I choose. Still I had a home in the city, a tem- 
perance house, where I took my meals and stopped over 



164 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

night when I choose to do so. The society had no 
house of worship, and after some effort and long delay 
we secured a lease, for the Sabbath, of " Washington 
Hall" on Washington street, where our services were 
held during the two years I remained there pastor." 

I had been in the city but a few days when a Baptist 
clergyman called upon me, accompanied by two colored 
men, and the following dialogue ensued : " Is this Mr. 
Stone ? " " It is." " I am pastor of the Baptist Church 
worshiping on Tremont street. Here are two men, 
called slaves, escaping from the South; the slave hun- 
ters are in the city, and perhaps now are on their track." 
" Well, what can I do to aid them ? " "I do not know ; 
take care of one and I will take care of the other." 
" Well, go ahead." He left one with me and went away. 
The one left with me was a tall mulatto, perhaps twenty- 
five years old, intelligent, yet bearing the marks of African 
descent, though his color was no more dark than many 
white men whom I have met. I inquired, "Are you sure 
the slave hunters are looking for you ? " " Not sartain, 
massa; I seed one I noed fro' our place." "Did you 
speak to him ? " " No, massa; I'se feared, and squatted 
hind a box. I'se sure he's a cotcher, else what he here 
for." I directed him to keep close in a quiet corner, 
while I took a walk. In the course of the afternoon I 
found a trading vessel from New Brunswick, and ar- 
ranged for my "protege" a passage to their point of 
destination. 

The evening following found me escorting the perse- 
cuted stranger to his place of rest and safety. I then 



Home, School and Church. 165 

bade him farewell, and have never heard of him more. 
The one with my Baptist friend, I learned from him, 
secured a passage to England. There was much excite- 
ment about these days, but this was the only one of that 
class of whom I had the especial charge. 

It was this year that the noted " Shadrach " case oc- 
curred in Boston. A colored man of that name was 
arrested as a fugitive slave, and taken into one of the 
court rooms for trial. While the case was being tried, 
and the witnesses examined, a large number of specta- 
tors being in the court room, Shadrach made a rush for 
the door, and, singular to say, the crowd, like Peter's 
prison gate, opened of itself to the right and left, and 
away down the stairs, and through the hall, and out at 
the door went the flying Shadrach, and has never been 
seen or heard of, so far as I know, in the United States of 
America since. 

Prosecutions were commenced against several in that 
crowd for allowing the gateway to open, and some six 
months after this darkey left Boston court house, these 
cases were tried. 

This occurred, I think, in my first year in the city. 
Three or four persons were arrested for aiding the escape 
of this fugitive, the cases for the defendants being man- 
aged by the Hon. John P. Hale, assisted by Richard H. 
Dana, Jr., the able and interesting author of "Three 
Years Before the Mast." The " Fugitive Slave Law" 
had been recently enacted, and these were among the 
first cases which had come up for trial. The opposers 
of slavery were unusually excited, inasmuch as one of the 



1 66 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Senators from the South had declared on the floor of the 
Senate, that the time was approaching when he could call 
his slave-roll under the shadow of Bunker Hill Monu- 
ment ! This bold and daring threat, and the legislation 
upon this matter, brought into action the strong resolve, 
that if the Senator gained possession of the memorable 
shadow of which he had spoken, he must fight his way 
legally to the hallowed spot, step by step. The free 
States of the North resolved on the full recognition of 
the following truths : " No man was a slave, or recog- 
nized as a slave, until proved to be such." "A black 
skin was no proof." "A claim by a Southern planter 
was no proof." " Being vagrant and poor was no proof." 
"A confession that he had once been a slave was no 
proof." Unimpeachable testimony to the fact alone could 
fix the condition. The slaveholders saw the great diffi- 
culty in the point of proof; then there would be appeals 
and adjournments and delays innumerable ; besides, it was 
very difficult for an honest man to identify even his own 
field-hands oftentimes, when dressed differently, and 
hence many planters secured the services of a shrewd, 
unscrupulous class of men, who could take an account 
of, and keep an eye upon several plantations — men who 
had no scruples in taking an oath even to the identity of 
men that they had never before known. It may not 
generally be understood, that in certain sections of the 
South there were men who let themselves as " cotchers," 
as the colored man told me of the one he saw in Bos- 
ton — investigators, floggers, whippers, a kind of private 
police for certain neighborhoods. One on the Shadrach 



Home, School and Church. 167 

trials swore that he was of that class, and had been sent 
on to manage and procure the arrest of runaways in Bos- 
ton and its vicinity. I held a conversation with him in 
the court house lobby, and afterward saw him on the 
witness stand at the time of trial. 

The cases were reached, and Scott, a colored man of 
some property and good character, was first brought be- 
fore the court. The testimony adduced by the govern- 
ment, tending to show how, in what way he, the prisoner, 
aided the. escape of the absconding man, was not at all 
clear, depending much on the identity of the defendant. 
Some one or more, evidently by gesture or action, in- 
duced the crowd to open, to separate ; and the crowd 
having separated, as it had a right to do, Shadrach, 
though under arrest, availed himself of the open way and 
ran out. One of the officers testified that a colored man 
was somewhat active in motion and gesture in influencing 
the separation of the crowd. He also said, in describing 
this active negro, that, he was not above the medium 
height. Others testified that they were very sure the 
prisoner was present, though no one would swear posi- 
tively that they saw Scott do anything. Much testimony 
was adduced on both sides, some swearing that they saw 
Scott about that time of day off on the street, but the 
strength of the testimony seemed to lean strongly toward 
the idea that he was at the time of the escape in the 
court room. The closing address for the defence was 
by Senator John P. Hale, and a most noble plea it was 
in behalf ot humanity, freedom and equal justice. " What 
evidence has been adduced," he inquired, " that Shadrach 



168 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

was a slave ? — and if it were true that he was, did that 
fact make Scott a slave to Shadrach's master? Are 
the people of New England, or the people of any por- 
tion ot the United States, bound to make themselves the 
slave-catchers and slave-holders of the South? The 
' Fugitive Slave Law,' unjust as it is in its operations, 
contemplates no such thing. If a man is proved to be a 
slave, to belong to an owner, the legal tribunal is bound 
to return him to his master. No more. Not that each 
man shall shut the door upon him — not that each man 
shall hedge up his way with briars and thorns — not that 
each man shall obstruct the free passage in the free cities 
of Boston, or Philadelphia, or New York. The officer 
who has the man in charge is bound to take care of him, 
and no citizen has a right to lift a finger against him till 
directed to do so by the officer. That officer testifies 
that he gave no such order " 

The Senator was about to close without alluding to 
the officer's testimony, that a man, not above the medium 
height, was the one quite active in opening the crowd. 
This, almost of itself, proved Scott's innocence, as he, 
Scott, stands full six feet high. The fact of the existence 
of this testimony seemed to have been forgotten. Sitting 
inside the bar, I hastily penned a note calling his mind 
to this statement of the government officer, and of Scott's 
height, and sent it up to Hale just as he was closing 
his plea and about sitting down. The Senator looked 
over the note, called the attention of the court and jury 
to the omission, turned around, faced the assembled spec- 
tators, and thanked the gentleman in the crowd, whoso- 



Home, School and Church. 169 

ever it might be, for sending him up the note which re- 
called this important fact; and then went on with an addi- 
tional argument from the point to which his attention had 
been called. The jury, with little deliberation, returned 
a verdict of acquittal, and not one of the indictments were 
sustained. 

It was during my first year in the city that the mighty 
struggle took place in the Massachusetts Legislature in the 
election of Charles Sumner to the United States Senate. 
Some ten or twelve of the members of the Legislature 
from the country boarded at the temperance house which 
was my home, and as the anti-slavery advocates depended 
much on his election in the support of true liberty and 
equal rights, this especial feature of politics was the gen- 
eral subject of conversation through nearly the whole 
winter. More than sixty bollotings were had, on as 
many different days, before the election was secured. 
These subjects, connected with national freedom, joined 
with a growing interest in the city and country upon the 
true view to be taken and acted upon relative to the sale 
and use of intoxicating liquors, produced a strong influ- 
ence in shaping the religious action of the State and Na- 
tion even in the establishment of true liberty. 

Few revivals and few deep awakenings were enjoyed, 
but the public mind was called up to examine and take 
a religious stand; to take a Christian moral stand, in 
shaping the State laws, and more effectually bringing the 
principles of Christian truth to bear upon civil right and 
national legislation. It is true it called out opposition, but 
this opposition resulted in more deeply and firmly estab- 



1 70 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

lishing the principles on which is based a righteous and 
stable government. There was less apparent Christian 
emotion and experience, but there was a higher and a 
truer sense of right, a greater power of truth, gaining 
strength amid all these agitations. This sense of right, 
this power of truth, was all the time at work laying the 
foundation stones of that pillar of love and justice, the 
Proclamation of Emancipation from our late martyred 
President, and echoing those acclamations of joy, min- 
gled with respect, which were heard, not only in the 
United States, but all over the civilized world ! 

Early in the ensuing spring a large number of me- 
chanics, both men and women, workers of silver and 
gold, platers, burnishers, engravers, were induced to emi- 
grate from Birmingham and the neighboring cities of 
England to Boston. Many of the members of the 
church ot which I was pastor were emigrants from Eu- 
rope, and these new arrivals soon made their acquaint- 
ance, and generally attended church on the Sabbath at 
" Washington Hall." Other Protestant emigrants found 
us, or we found them, and thus moderately enlarged 
our numbers, though our progress was slow. A young 
man, an apothecary from Cork, in the southern part of 
Ireland, during the same spring came to Boston, and in 
the course of a few months made my acquaintance. My 
impressions are that he was well educated, and under- 
stood his business ; but it is very difficult for an Irishman 
to obtain employment in the Eastern States above the 
hod, the spade, or the hoe, and hence all the efforts in 
his line of education proved a failure, and the bright 



Home, School and Church. 171 

hope which he had so fondly cherished, of sending the 
results of his success back to his widowed mother and 
loving sisters, became but the dark figure-spot on the 
retinal tissue, when the shining light is removed forever, 
His want of success seriously affected his health. I in- 
vited him to my home in Sherborn to spend some weeks, 
or even months, with my family, if necessary, until some 
favorable opening presented itself. He cheerfully ac- 
cepted the invitation, and, during his stay, did all in his 
power to render himself useful. At the end of the fifth 
week he was attacked by a disease, which, in a few days, 
assumed a decidedly dangerous aspect. Four days be- 
fore he died he called me to his bedside, saying he might 
not recover, and he wished to send a particular message 
to his mother and sisters. I wrote down the words from 
his lips. He expressed his full trust in God ; the kind- 
ness by which he had been received by my family, which 
had in a foreign land so affectionately opened its doors 
and given him a home ; that he had been as carefully 
watched over and as tenderly nursed as if by his own 
mother and sisters; and then bade them an affectionate 
farewell till he should meet them in the home of the 
blessed. Shortly after this he became delirious, and in 
four days passed quietly away. I arranged for the 
funeral, which was attended at our chapel by Rev. Mr. 
Pike, the pastor of the Independent Congregational 
Church, who had taken my place, our church assembling 
to bid farewell to the remains of one who, in the few 
weeks of his acquaintance, had endeared himself to us 
all. There was a general kindness and sympathy mani- 



172 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

fested by all who knew him. The physician refused any 
compensation. The sexton, a rough man with a tender 
heart, called on me ; I asked for his bill. He said, " I 
suppose this is a State affair." I have never forgotten 
his face-expression when I said, " No, I shall never ask 
the State for aid; " and my wife rejoined, " I want noth- 
ing for what I have done for Christopher." (His name 
was Christopher Cudmore). " Well," said the sexton, 
" if this is to be a benevolent affair I want a hand in it. 
My bill is nothing." The church at Sherborn took up a 
contribution to defray expenses of sickness and funeral, 
as also did the church at Boston. But I had learned 
from him in my first acquaintance that the family was 
needy, and he was their only son. I therefore transmit- 
ted both contributions to his mother, with the letter which 
he had dictated on his death-bed. I received several 
letters from the mother, expressive of deep and heartfelt 
gratitude for the contributions, and especially for the kind- 
ness and tender care to her son in his last sickness. I 
received a letter of thanks and affectionate interest from 
a sister, who suggested coming to this country and en- 
gaging as a teacher; but knowing the prejudice against 
that people, I could not in justice give her encourage- 
ment. 

The second year of my labors in Boston seventeen 
connected themselves with our church, thirteen of whom 
were from the emigrants reaching Boston within the two 
years of my pastoral labors in " Washington Hall." Some 
time in the fall of the last year I received the following 
letter from a Reverend gentleman connected with the 



Home, School and Church. 173 

Methodist Church, whose name it bears. His sister had 
been one of those who had recently exchanged England 
for America, and was an intelligent, worthy, active young 
lady of some twenty or twenty-five years. In her own 
town of Birmingham she had been introduced to the 
celebrated preacher " John Angell James," and had often 
heard " Caughey" in his ministrations in that part of Eng- 
land. Miss Strickland was married, within two or three 
years after her arrival at Boston, to a worthy mechanic 
by the name of Weaver : 

Birmingham, Oct. 4th, 1852. 

Rev. and Dear Sir— Allow me to express to you my 
thanks for the attention and interest which you have 
manifested, both in the temporal and spiritual welfare of 
my dear sister Mary. Our family and myself feel it the 
more deeply, as she is far from us and from all her rela- 
tions, and with but few of her former friends. May your 
labors be abundantly blessed. Excuse the liberty I have 
taken in addressing you. The letters of sister Mary so 
connect you with herself, and with our friends in your 
city, that I seem to myself acquainted with you. Again 
accept my thanks. 

Yours in much love, J. I. Strickland. 

A church and religious society had been organized in 
Cochituate Village, on the borders of Cochituate Lake, 
the grand reservoir of the Boston water-works, sixteen 
miles from the city. In this romantic and pleasant spot 
a house of worship was erected, completed, and dedicated 
during the summer of my second year in the city. Many 



174 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

of the church at " Washington Hall " were present, as 
their pastor preached the sermon on the occasion. I 
give a few sentences from the opening and close. Text : 
Exodus xx. 24 — "In all places where I record my name I 
will come unto thee a?id bless thee. The spiritual Israel 
of the present age may still hear the voice of the same 
God, speaking in the same tones of confidence as when 
his chosen people stood listening at the foot of Mount 
Sinai. Now, as in the memorable period of my text, 
God enjoins upon his children a remembrance of himself, 
his mercies, his judgments, his promises, his blessings, 
thereby to shape their affections in accordance with his 
own excellence and the purity of heaven. To effect this 
end he has appointed special seasons and particular 
places to be set apart and consecrated to him, to his 
worship, to his service. Leaving the past, we come di- 
rectly to God's record on the churches of the present 
day, where God's name is recorded by the success given 
to pious, holy, practical efforts — where sin is rebuked in 
language so plain that it will be, must be, understood 
and felt — where the preacher and the people act as well 
as preach and pray — where they listen to and obey the 
words, " go work in my vineyard " — where the sins of 
the world, individually, as avarice, malice, slander, intem- 
perance, liquor-selling, liquor-making, dishonesty, idle- 
ness, and slavery are blasted by the lightning touch of 
love and truth ! What, says one, would you have relig- 
ious people and ministers have anything to do with 
political enactments and civil State affairs? I answer, 
yes. Wherever any moral question is involved, I would 



Home, School and Church. 175 

have the minister and Church at their posts. I deplore 
the miserable idea, that the Church and its ministers 
have nothing to do with State and national affairs. It 
is the doctrine of the pit, a doctrine in the mouths of 
our godless politicians, ' that we must preach and direct 
all our efforts and action toward another life — that our 
work is entirely spiritual — that we must take care of the 
next world, and leave the devil and his emissaries to take 
care of this!' 

" This doctrine, carried out, will ruin the nation. It has 
actually forged fetters which many of us have put on 
and are now wearing; in fact, this political recreancy is 
one of the darkest pages in the history of the American 
clergy- Such is our position in this respect, that it has 
attracted the attention of foreign travelers, who have 
repeatedly pointed to this degrading trait in American 
ministerial character. More than this, I believe it is this 
time-serving spirit which has withheld those refreshing 
showers of grace and mercy which have so rarely visited 
us, and in many churches nearly blotted out the name 
of God once written upon their walls ! I still look in 
faith for a record of God's name. I hope I am not 
deceived in those " coming events which cast their shad- 
ows before." I see, or think I see, a disposition in the 
churches of our land to take a higher and a holier stand. 
The Apocalypse typifies the ministry as the eagle, far- 
sighted and seeing — as the ox, strong, steady and endur- 
ing — as the lion, fearless and magnanimous — as man, 
wise, intellectual and rational. Would to God these 
symbols might characterize the ministry of the present 



176 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

age — of the year 185 1 ! Yes, beloved brethren in the 
ministry, beloved brethren and sisters in Christ, let the 
outgushings of your heart-aspirations rest down upon 
that fearless body of Christians of various denominations 
who have raised their voices in behalf of the down- 
trodden slave. Invite by your prayers, and your labors, 
and your love, the God whom you profess to serve, to 
write his name upon the walls oi this church, which you 
have now met to consecrate to his service, by an earnest, 
a kind, I had almost said a loving hatred, I will say a 
loving rebuke, of all forms of sin, of neglect, of iniquity, 
of unbelief, which may rise up before you ! There is an 
electric chain passing from heart to heart, on, on to the 
throne of Jehovah; let us keep all its links burnished 
and bright by the breath of prayer, and thus entwine the 
dearest ties of social affection around the wreath of Chris- 
tian love. Thus living, we have the assurance that God 
will here " record his name " — that sinners shall here be 
convinced of sin — that here the penitential tear shall not 
drop in vain— that here the children of God shall be 
strengthened and blessed. And O may the air which is en- 
closed within these walls never be poisoned by the breath 
of detraction and falsehood — never vibrate the notes of dis- 
cord, or echo the voice of error; but always here be heard 
the language of kindness, of faithfulness, of truth, of hon- 
esty — always be heard the language of righteousness and 
true holiness, and always call down from above the still, 
small voice of God, speaking peace on earth and forgive- 
ness to man." 



Home, School and Church. 177 

ADDRESS 

On Te?npera?ice and the Mai?ie Law, to the New Engla?id 
Temperance Association. — Pub. 1853. 

EXTRACTS. 

The greatest interests of human happiness depend 
upon the conformity of all the lovers of humanity to true 
virtue and revealed truth in their several relations to so- 
ciety. Among other claims none demands your careful 
attention and co-operation more than the cause of tem- 
perance, especially in the present crisis. Maine has set 
the example of a bold and fearless legislation upon this 
subject, which does honor to the hearts which conceived, 
the heads which planned, and the hands which executed 
it. We hope soon to see her noble example copied 
throughout the length and breadth of this Union. But 
legislative enactments are valueless unless sanctioned by 
the unfaltering and the effective action of the people. It 
is to this end that every civil, moral and religious asso- 
ciation should speak out. He who is not for us is against 
us; he who refuses his voice, or his vote, whether he 
intends it or not, supports indirectly this traffic in human 
woe. 

The principle upon which the Maine Law is founded 
is nothing new in human legislation. It is this : "Individ- 
ual interest must yield to public good." On this princi- 
ple of law, nuisances are abated, burglarious, gaming and 
counterfeiting implements are seized, fisheries are regu- 
lated, lands for public roads taken, the sale of lottery tick- 
ets suppressed ; the only thing new is, the State of Maine 
12 



178 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

has applied this principle of law to the manufacture and 
sale of intoxicating liquors. The law in most statutes 
upon this subject, even when the most fearful results fol- 
lowed, only imposed a small fine ; but even this, unequal 
as it was, was not its worse feature. The difficulty of 
obtaining proof, through the evasion and perjury of the 
buyers, who constituted the principal admissible testi- 
mony, met us at every turn, and in most cases allowed 
the rumseller to escape. The Maine Law removes these 
evils, and makes the implements of vending and the 
liquor itself evidence ot the crime. Under such a statute 
no rumseller can shun the exposure of his destructive 
traffic. But the objection may arise, " The temperance 
subject is a moral one, and should be advanced by moral, 
i. e,, by persuasive means only." The argument is, "moral 
suasion has effected much, therefore it can effect more, 
and will finally prevail." That it has done much, we 
grant; that it will do much more, we expect. It is a 
powerful, God- appointed means; we hope the friends of 
temperance will never give it up. But experience shows, 
and the histories of many towns declare, there is a point 
beyond which it cannot advance. There is a barrier 
which says, " Hitherto shalt thou come and no further ! " 
That barrier is a rumseller 's heart! . The shout of the 
hunters and the clamor of the hounds drove the wolf to 
his retreat, but such means prevailed no longer. Putnam 
must descend into the den and beard the monster there ! 
So of the power of moral suasion in its various forms. 
The monster has by its influence fled from place to place — 
been driven from the social board, sometimes from the 



Home, School and Church. 



79 



public house, but generally that he might entrench him- 
self more firmly in the dens of avarice. If he is dis- 
lodged, it must be by the strong arm of power. As veil 
may you reason with the midnight fire, as block after 
block melts away before it. Rather pour on the water 
of a resistless law and the fire will be extinguished. But 
it it said the " Maine Law takes from a man his prop- 
erty; he has bought a cask of liquor, it is his property, 
and should be held sacred." But the people have the 
right to judge whether the community will be blessed 
or cursed by its sale and use. All things — yes, all things — 
pass this ordeal of public judgment. The public judges 
that healthy, sweet meat is useful, and permits its sale ; 
the same public judges that sickly, tainted meat is injuri- 
ous, and forbids its sale. The State judges that railroad 
tickets are useful, and permits their sale ; the same State 
judges that lottery tickets are hurtful, and prohibits their 
sale. Maine says that oil is useful, and encourages its 
sale ; she says that alcohol is hurtful, and forbids its sale. 
This is only carrying out a principle as old as law itself — 
" that a. community has a right to protect itself against 
what is hurtful to property and morals" Why should 
not this principle be applied to intoxicating liquors ? 
Where bad meat has sickened one family, alcohol has 
spread disease over whole States. Where railroads have 
destroyed one life, alcohol has murdered its hundreds. 
Where lotteries have wasted their thousands, alcohol has 
wasted its hundred of thousands. We heartily wish the 
time had come when penal enactments were no longer 
needed, but experience shows us that laws, to be useful, 



180 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

must be adapted to the condition of the world as it is — 
to encourage virtue, to suppress vice, and to restrain 
crime. We, therefore, renewedly call upon our whole 
associated body, upon every lover of truth, prosperity 
and virtue in the State, to come up with one voice, one 
heart, and one soul to strengthen and sustain every law 
which breaks the chains of moral bondage, overthrows 
the tyranny of a pernicious custom, renders- our free insti- 
tutions permanent, and bids the soul mount upward to- 
ward its God. 

Richard C. Stone, Chairman of Com. 

There has often been party opposition, sometimes a 
a trial of strength, on some point of especial local inter- 
est, between the country Representatives and those of 
the city — not producing an entire division, by city or 
country lines, but sufficiently distinct to recognize the 
leading features. Not unfrequently some humorous pic- 
ture of country refinement, or political sagacity, has 
appeared in speech or print on the one side, or a 
drawn sketch of the consistent honesty, the literary taste, 
or the moral wisdom of the codfish aristocracy of the 
city on the other. During the winter in which occurred 
the struggle which resulted in the election of Sumner to 
the Senate, a play of the above-described character was 
produced and brought out with great success at " Kim- 
ball's Museum." It was entitled " The Member from 
Cranberry Centre." It was, with its accompaniments, 
well played, and from the first was unusually popular. 
It portrayed a bachelor Representative, by the name of 
" Jefferson Scattering Batkins," from one of the western 



Home, School and Church. 181 

hill and valley towns, coming to, and spending the win- 
ter in the city, and boarding in a private family. His 
outfit from his country home, in order Jo pay a part of 
his expenses, was a lot of axe-handles and ox-bows — his 
attempts to form an intimate acquaintance with a mar- 
riageable young lady of rather mature years, by the name 
of Partridge — his interesting description of his own home 
to the lady — the portrait which he drew of his city life 
to some country friends — " the leetle fishes biled in He " 
were a peculiar delicacy. Taken as a whole, it was inex- 
pressibly humorous, was free from vulgarity, was played 
more or less almost every week during the winter, and be- 
came the sportive reminiscence of almost the whole State. 
I have given this description of "The Member from Cran- 
berry Centre," that a dialogue which follows may be 
more readily understood. The circumstances and the 
main features of the following dialogue are facts. The 
allusions to the above-described play are the only em- 
bellishments. The facts in Scene ist were given me 
some few days before the 3d, or smoking scene, occurred, 
by the landlord and a fellow -boarder. The facts in the 
second Scene, except the first part, were related to me 
by the man, the hero of the play himself. The facts in 
the third Scene occurred as related, " all which I saw, 
and part of which I was." 

For the Massachusetts Life-Boat. 
NEW MEMBER FROM CRANBERRY CENTRE. 

PERSONS REPRESENTED. 

Landlord — A keeper of a temperance hotel in Boston. 
Stanley — An invalid boarder. 



182 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Cornelius Crabbe — Representative from one of the western 
towns of Massachusetts. 

Morton and Blake — Representatives of Massachusetts. 

Dr. James — Rev. R. C. Stone, a boarder, and author of this 
book. 

Capt. Quadrant — An aged sea-captain, and boarder. 

Jack — A drunken porter. 

SCENE I. — Public House in Boston. 
\_Enter Landlord and Stanley. ] 

Stan. — Are the members who board here from the 
country ? 

Land. — Yes, from the smaller towns in the western 
part of the State. They appear to be substantial, com- 
mon sense men; have never been from home much, I 
judge, but very quiet, good boarders. 

Stan. — Do they appear to understand legislation and 
its principles ? 

Land. — Well, not much, but may be good judges when 
a case is argued before them ; seem to be about such 
men as make up our juries. You have been in courts, I 
suppose ? 

Stan. — Yes, sometimes. But will not the lawyers mis- 
lead them ? 

Land. — Well, they must take their chances. But I 
had about as lief trust such men, after all, to make laws 
as your lawyers and educated men; if they don't know 
as much law, they don't do as much mischief. [Enter 
Cornelius Crabbe.] Good evening, sir. 

C. C. — Good evening, mister; take boarders here? 

Land. — Yes, we can accommodate a few more. 



Home, School and Church. 183 

C. C. — Well, I want 'commodation through this term 
of General Court — that is, if I like and you like; and 
if I don't I'll be off, for my constituents want me to 
board at a respectable place, and a public house, too. 
The member that was here from our place last year 
rather scandalized us by boarding at a private house, 
and courting a gal there, and sellin' axe-handles and ox- 
bows, and finally votin' for that cussed liquor law that's 
made so much fuss ; and so they determined to send a 
man that had dignity enough to board at a public house, 
and vote his own mind — an independent man, mister. 
I've been boarding away down by Dock — Docket Square, 
I b'lieve they call it — way down where they keep so many 
hats, and — and coats and breeches hangin' up outside the 
houses. I couldn't go it there, they're so starched up ; 
and then there's some charges I didn't like. I didn't 
come here to be imposed upon; don't know but they 
thought they could do it, 'cause I'm from Cranberry 
Centre; but faith I'll let 'em know I aint Jeff Batkins, 
by a long jump. Why, don't you think, mister, they 
charged me a York shilling for a spoonful of brandy ! — 
did, by faith ! I don't drink much, only when I'm a 
leetle unwell, or so ; but I want it when I want it, and 
I mean to have it ; faith I do, law or no law. I'm an in- 
dependent man. T'other day — I b'lieve 'twas last Sun- 
day mornin' — I'd got a kind of diarree, you know, an' I 
thought a leetle brandy and sugar'd be good for't; so I 
asked for some brandy an' sugar. They sot out a dican- 
tur an' some sugar ; I took a great spoonful, mabbe a lee- 
tle more, not tu — as I'm a member, there wa'nt tu ! — and 



184 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

what do you guess he charged me ? A ninepence ! — a 
York shillin' ! I swow, if I'd a known what he was goin' 
to charge I'd a drinkt a tumbler full, I would ! I wouldn't 
stan' it ; I paid up. I didn't have to wait for the treasury 
to pay over nuther. I'd enough to cash his bill in tin I 
brought from home [giving a wink) — well, to be inde- 
pendent, you know — brought one fat hog in my pocket 
out of the thirteen I sold last fall. 

Stan. — (Aside). Then it seems you brought two fat 
hogs to Boston. 

C. C. — Well, now, landlord, I thought I'd see if we 
could agree about board and 'commodations, an' stop 
with you through the term, if I like. You keep a respect- 
able house, I suppose ? 

Land. — We try to keep it so, sir. But, perhaps, we 
cannot suit you, sir ; we keep a temperance house. 

C. C. — But you keep a little to 'commodate gentlemen ? 

Land. — Not a drop. 

C. C— Really ? 

Land. — No, not a drop. 

C. C. — Well, it can be got in the neighborhood, if a 
fellow's sick, night or morning, I 'spose; can't it? Dur- 
ing session time we 'spect to be 'commodated in the State 
House, or somewhere close by, so that we needn't be 
absent when any great votes come on, and so disap- 
point our constituents. Well, landlord, what now'll you 
take me for ? I want as good as anybody has ; and then 
I want the privileges of the house — kinder homelike, you 
know. What's your price,- and have your money in your 
fist every week? 



Home, School and Church. 185 

Land. — Well, sir, four dollars is about as low as I can 
accommodate any one. 

C. C. — Well, but landlord, can't you do it cheaper than 
that ? 'Taint like boarding a man a week or fortnight, 
you know ; it brings a swad of money together. Can't 
you do it for three and a half? 

Land. — Indeed, sir, I cannot. 

C. C. — You do the washing, I suppose, at that price ; 
don't you ? 

Land. — Never; O no, sir, never. 

C. C. — Well, show me the way to my bedroom ; I 
want to have my valise carried up. I 'spect my wife to 
send down my trunk by a man that's coming to Boston 
next week. I'm a married man, mister; my constituents 
thought they'd send an independent man, and a married 
man, that they needn't be laughed at for any more Bat- 
kins and Partridge scrapes. 

[ They go out. — End of Scene I. ] 

SCENE II. — Parlor in Public House, Boston. 
\_Enter Landlord, Stanley, Dr. fames. ] 

Stan. — What, in your opinion, Doctor, will be the fate 
of the Liquor Law ? 

Dr. J. — It is very uncertain, and in the present state 
of the matter before this Legislature I cannot make up 
my mind. There is no question that a majority of the 
voters of the State are favorable to a stringent prohibitory 
law ; but in the election so many motives were addressed 
to the voters that many temperance men lost themselves 
amid the partisan struggle, and sent men here to repre- 



1 86 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

sent them who are opposed to the law, or will be carried 
over by some local interest to vote against it. Besides, 
the interest of Boston, with its moneyed aristocracy — for 
the reigning interest of Boston is not birth, virtue, or 
talent, but moneyed — this thrown into the scale, I fear, 
will repeal or amend the law much to its injury ; and yet 
I have a strong hope that there is a temperance majority 
which will have the firmness to prevent it. 

Land. — Well, Doctor, if they do repeal it, I do not think 
it will be any worse than it now is. It seems there are 
few real temperance men, after all. I have kept this 
house at a very low rate, strictly on temperance princi- 
ples, and the rum hotels are better patronized, even to 
overflowing, and I have seen more drunkenness this year 
than last. 

Dr. J. — One part of your statement is too true, that 
abstinent men are not careful enough to patro?iize tem- 
perance houses. I confess that I have but little faith in 
that man's temperance who will sacrifice his principles 
for a few minutes' walk or a bit of pudding. As to there 
being more drunkenness here than last year, if that is 
the fact, it springs from this cause. The ? 'rum rowdies " 
have left Maine and the cities of Massachusetts, like 
Lowell and Springfield, where the law has been enforced, 
and are here in Boston. Crows will always scent out 
carrion, if any is to be found. 

\_Enter Crabbe, Morton, Blake.~\ 

Stan. — House adjourned ? 

C. C. — Yes, and would- have been afore, if it hadn't 
been for them cussed temperance folks ; they didn't care 



Home, School and Church. 187 

if none of us had a mouthful of dinner to-day ; but I 
guess the committee with their report will sow 'em up. 
There's a majority on that committee that will go against 
the law, so my Boston friend Wiggin says. Smart fel- 
low, that Wiggin. He found out that I was a member 
from Cranberry Centre, and come out and spoke tu me 
like an old friend. Good fellow, that Wiggin. 

Mor. — The report of that committee is very uncer- 
tain, I think 

C. C. — Well, I know the people in general, and my 
constituents in particular, won't stan' it as it is; and so 
my Boston friend Wiggin says. 

Stan.— Why, sir, do you go against all prohibitory 
laws in the liquor traffic ? Would you throw it open to 
all, without restraint ? 

C. C. — Well, not exactly ; but I'd have it, mister, so 
that every man can be independent. I would have no 
man gagged; and so my Boston friend Wiggin says. 

Stan. — But if you do repeal it, you will have many 
gagged, and in the gutter, too ! 

C. C. — No more in the gutter then than now, and any- 
body is a fool that can't see it ; and so my Boston friend 
Wiggin says. 

Stan. — When men call us fools, without proving it, 
we will reply, by proving they are fools, without conde- 
scending to call them so. 

C. C. — I tell ye, mister, it's all cussed hypocrisy, got 
up by that coalition Legislature last year, and we mean 
to break it up, so that men can be independent ; and so 
my friend Wiggin says. It's the same gang as wants 



188 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

to break up the Saturday and Sunday 'musements, and 
won't let a feller eat and drink what he wants — same 
gang, all of a feather; and so my Boston friend Wiggin 
says. But I swow, I don't care if they do stop that Mu- 
seum, they are so cussed arbitary. 

Dr. J. — Why, sir, what have you against the " Mu- 
seum ? " 

C. C. — Why, my Boston friend Wiggin says, the owner 
was a member last year, and voted right against his con- 
stituents, and for that cussed law, tu. Why, mister, he 
ought, as that old Ethan Allen said, to be thrown into 
Tophet, the door locked, the key lost, and a board over 
the chimney ! I tell ye, if I should do so to my con- 
stituents I shouldn't expect they'd ever send me again. 
And then a feller can't go there without being insulted. 

Dr. J. — Indeed; I thought Mr. Kimball and his at- 
tendants were gentlemanly and courteous. 

C. C. — Well, they ain't, if you did think so. Go in 
there and set down with your hat on and see how they'll 
use you. 

Dr. J. — But I should expect to take off my hat in such 
company, and in such a place. 

C. C. — Well, I don't, if you do, mister; I'm an inde- 
pendent man — don't knuckle, I tell ye. 

Dr. J. — Did you sit in the company at the Museum, 
sir, without taking off your hat ? 

C. C. — No, not exactly; but it took the city officers 
to du it, I tell ye. I wouldn't have done it for Kimball 
and his men. I'll tell ye how it was. One day I thought 
I'd go to the Museum and see "Uncle Tom," and I 



Home, School and Church. 189 

asked the price to see the birds and things, and the play, 
tu. They told me twenty-five cents, and I went in. I 
guess it was about half arter one when I went in. So I 
looked it over, for there's a lot of critturs there, I tell ye. 
Have you ever been to see 'em, mister? 

Dr. J. — I have looked the rooms through, sir. 

C. C. — Well, I went into the play-room and sot down — 
most down to the fiddlers — the music men, you know. 
At last the play begun. The niggers begun to dance 
and cut up - like all possessed. By and by something 
came tap, tap, tap on my hat, and somebody said, 
"Please take off your hat." I said, "Take off your hat." 
'Bout a minute after, harder than before, came tap, tap, 
tap, and a voice, " Take off your hat, sir ! " I spoke out 
loud enough to be heard half over the house, " Take off 
your hat and I'll take off mine ! " I didn't know as he'd 
any hat on, but thought I'd tell him so, for I felt the in- 
sult, I tell ye. 'Bout a minute more came thump, thump, 
thump — it almost drove my hat down over my eyes — and 
a voice like thunder, " Take off your hat ! " I looked 
round, and the feller that struck my hat had his hat on, 
and " Police " was on the front of it. As he was an offi- 
cer I thought, rather than have' a fuss, I'd take it off. I 
told my Boston friend Wiggin about it. He laughed, 
and said, " Probably the feller didn't know as I was a 
member." Well, I stayed in till the play was through, 
and some on 'em said there was to be another 'bout a 
Scotchman in the evening ; so I looked the things over 
again ; didn't know but the door-keeper would make a 
fuss if he seed me, though he couldn't help himself, for 



190 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

I'd paid for coming in. and hadn't been out. I stayed 
through that play, tu. I guess I got my money's worth 
(winking) — don't calkerlate the Boston folks will Jew 
me, I tell ye. 

\_Exeitnt omnes. ] 

SCENE III. — Parlor in Public House in Boston. 

\^Enter Capt. Qitadrant, Morton, Blake, Stanley, and C. Crabbe. ] 

(Crabbe with a paper of tobacco, filling his pipe — time, 6 p.m.) 

Capt. Q. — I hope you are not intending to smoke in 
this parlor, sir. 

C. C. — Parlor! I'm going to smoke here. 

Capt. Q. — It is quite out of place to smoke in a pub- 
lic parlor, sir. 

C. C. — Tis, hey ? Well, I shall smoke here at any 
rate, and those that don't like it may lump it. I'm an 
independent man, Captain, I tell ye. I'll smoke here, 
by faith. 

Capt. Q. — More likely you'll do it by works; if 'twas 
only by faith 'twould not be so offensive. 

C. C. — Well, by faith or works, old daddy, whichever 
you like, I'm going to smoke in this room, hed-room, or 
parlor, or sitting-room, or what not. I have as much 
right here as anybody, and I'm independent. 

Capt. Q. — Well, sir, if you do it you'll break the rules 
of the house, and of good order. You know there is a 
room on purpose to smoke in, and whoever smokes 
ought to go there and not "trouble those who do not. 

C. C. — I don't care if there is a room, 'tis not as com- 



Home, School and Church. 191 

fortable as this, and I'm going to smoke right here, I 

tell ye. 

\_Enter Dr. James. ,] 

Capt. Q. — Doctor, do you think it right to smoke in 
the parlor of a public house, in rooms occasionally occu- 
pied by ladies and gentlemen ? 

Dr. J. — I do not think it best to smoke anywhere. 
I consider the use of tobacco in any form generally 
hurtful. 

Capt. Q.— But in a public parlor, for those accus- 
tomed to smoke, is it right there ? It is offensive to me 
and to many others, and a smoker has no right to puff 
my face full of smoke, even if he does like it. 

C. C. — Take your face out ol the way, then. 

Dr. J. — I agree with you, Captain, that it is highly 
improper and ungentlemanly to smoke in the parlor of a 
public house — a room which is the common property of 
all, and especially in -parlors like these, occupied occa- 
sionally both by ladies and gentlemen. There is a room 
in all public houses — -there is in this house — where peo- 
ple who are accustomed to smoke can go and be accom- 
modated without troubling others. It is forbidden in 
the cars and station houses. This very day, I saw the 
conductor lead an unmannerly fellow out of the cars who 
had lighted his pipe and began smoking there. 

C. C. — 'Twas cussed mean and insulting, if the feller 
had a ticket and paid for it, mister. I wouldn't submit- 
ted to it, I tell ye. 

Dr. J. — He had a ticket to ride, sir, not to smoke. 

C. C. — I think if a man pays four dollars a week for his 



192 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

board, and no washing done, he has a ticket to ride and 
smoke, tu; and I'll smoke in this room, I tell ye, right 
here. 

\_Enter Landlord. ] 

Land. — We can't have smoking in this room. There 
is a room below for that purpose. 

C. C. — It's cold down there, aint it ? 

Land. — No; the room is warm. [Exit Landlord, ,] 

C. C. — (Going.) Well, this is fine, to be ordered into 
the cellar; I shan't stan' this, I swow. There is places 
where an independent man can live; I know that, and 
so my Boston friend Wiggin says. [Exit Crabbe.] 

Stan. — Well, Doctor, quite a flare up; something 
more than smoke, that. 

Dr. J. — Not much. Boasters and blusterers are not 
very dangerous. Do you know what town he repre- 
sents ? 

Blake. — Cranberry Centre, sir; the town that last 
year sent Jefferson Scattering Batkins. 

Dr. J. — Indeed ! that town seems to favor our Legis- 
lature with great men. But I am really astonished at 
this man's vanity, which seems to be equalled only by his 
ignorance. How the man glories in his shame- 1 — boast- 
ing he would have drank a tumbler full of brandy, if he 
had known they would charge him a York shilling ; of 
staying afternoon and evening in the Museum, during 
two plays, with one ticket ; sitting with his hat on till 
the police rapped him three times. Certainly he is a 
rare specimen of humanity. 

Stan. — I should judge he has been caged in some 



Home, School and Church. 193 

mountain town of some nineteen or twenty persons, and 
this is the first time he has got loose. 

\_Enter Crabbe and Jack.~\ 

Jack. — Good evening (hie) zhentlemen. This a tem- 
perance house, aint it ? Where's the ladies. 

Blake. — (To Crabbe.) Had your smoke ? 

C. C. — Yes, in the cellar. This room is too good to 
smoke in, when the Doctor is here, and so he drove 
me off. 

Dr. J. — You labor under a mistake, sir. The Cap- 
tain was conversing with you upon that subject when I 
came in. He asked my opinion ; I gave it ; I still think 
it correct, but regret that your feelings were hurt. 

C. C. — 'Twas you, mister, that did it. I didn't care 
for the Captain ; I should have smoked here if it hadn't 
been for you. 

Stan. — The landlord came in without being requested, 
and said what he did without hearing a word from any 
of us. 

Jack. — Can't s-s-smoke in this room, hey ? I'd like 
to see who'd stop my smoking in a public house ! Doc- 
tor, hey ? Can't smoke ? By mighty ! I tell ye, Doc- 
tor, I'm as good as anybody — I be — ye see, Doctor. I 
wish I'd a pipe and some ter-ter-backer. 

C. C. — Here's a pipe and tobacco, mister. 

Jack. — O ! — Ay ! — thank ye, sir. Doctor, I think I'll 
take a smoke. (Fills the pipe and tries to light it, but 
fails through drunkenness.) 

\_Enter Landlord. ] 

Land. — (To Jack.) Walk out into the street, sir. 
13 



194 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

(Takes Jack by the collar with one hand, and seizing 
the pipe with the other he dashes it with great force 
against the stove, and pulls Jack out of the house.) 

C. C. — Well, I think I'll go to my room. (Exit 
Crabbe.) 

Stan. — Well, this evening's scenes have been equal to 
the Museum. 

Capt. Q. — All begun in smoke and ended in smoke. 

Stan. — I think, at any rate, it ends the smoke above 

stairs. 

[Exezint o??ines.~\ 

(Next morning Cornelius Crabbe was not at the break- 
fast table — was reported out of health, and breakfasted 
alone. ) 

The whole subject matter and conversation brought 
out in the three scenes just delineated (except the refer- 
ences to the former play) actually occurred at one of the 
public houses in Boston, and the characters are from 
real life. The third scene closed about nine p. m., when, 
as represented, Cornelius Crabbe retired to his room. 
Impressed with the characters which these conversations 
portrayed — the country dupes on the one hand, and the 
city manipulators on the other, especially with reference 
to the temperance action of our State — I retired to my 
room, and at eleven o'clock had these three scenes hastily 
prepared for the press, and was on my way to the office 
of the " Life-Boat," the principal temperance paper of 
the State. 

I found the editor there, read him portions of the sev- 
eral scenes, and he assured me they should appear in the 



Home, School and Church. 195 

morning issue for the morning distribution. It was so' 
done, and before the assembling of the Legislature the 
copies were awaiting the members at their desks. When 
I came down to breakfast the landlord met me with a 
look of inexpressible humor and astonishment, exclaim- 
ing, " What have you been doing? " Some three days 
after Morton gave me the following conversation be- 
tween himself and Crabbe : Morton. — " Have you seen 
the morning 'Life-Boat?'" Crabbe. — "Yes." Mor- 
ton. — " Do -you take ? " Crabbe. — " Yes." Morton — 
" What do you think of it ? " Crabbe. — " I think it best 
for me to keep entirely still." He did so, treating me 
kindly, and appearing a changed man. 

A month before my labors closed at Boston, a family 
from the State of Maine, of forty-three people, came to, 
and stopped over the Sabbath at my home in Boston. 
The family consisted of a worthy pair, with their chil- 
dren and grandchildren, on their way to St. Paul, Min- 
nesota. There were the father and mother and nine 
children, with eight families, numbering twenty-three 
grandchildren, all bearing the impress of industry, intel- 
ligence, cultivation, and Christian hope. The youngest 
daughter was unmarried. Her hopes, however, in antici- 
pation of her long journey, were brightened by the prom- 
ises of a young mechanic, a carpenter of her acquaintance, 
soon to emigrate to their far-distant home and make her 
his wife. This was joyous. But then that dark cloud 
of separation — yes, and it grew darker, and still darker 
as came nearer the hour of their departure. The girl 
occasionally wept ; the young man, helping on the pre- 



196 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

parations, struggled manfully until the last day, when, in 
the weakness "of humanity, he could endure it no longer. 
The last day ! The boat would leave at four o'clock 
p. m., and as the family sat down to dinner, he said, in a 
tone of decision, " I shall go with you." He was counted 
in the Saturday arrival at Boston, and that evening, in 
the parlor of the temperance hotel, they were joined in 
marriage. On Monday morning the young married cou- 
ple, with their numerous friends, started on their long 
bridal tour for the " Falls of St. Anthony." 



CHAPTER V. 

In the spring of 1853 I left Boston for Manchester, 
N. H., a large manufacturing town, of about twenty-five 
thousand inhabitants, located near "Amoskeag Falls," on 
the Merrimack river. The extent of the manufactories, 
in some degree, may be clearly brought before the mind 
by a few extracts from an article of the author, pub- 
lished in the " Manchester Mirror," entitled " Visit to the 
Manchester Print Works." 

The power of genius and skill, the advantage of a 
division of labor, and the perfection to which machinery 
has been reduced, is manifestly obvious in the " Man- 
chester Print Works." By the politeness of their effec- 
tive and gentlemanly agent, I, with a few visiting friends, 
was taken through this spacious establishment, and shown 
the nature and effect of each change through which the 



Home, School and Church. 197 

cloth in its various stages passes. I would not tire you, 
gentle reader, by explaining, if I could, and I could not 
if I would, the various aspects which yonder lady's beau- 
tiful dress went through before she exhibited it so grace- 
fully up and down Elm street, and with it swept the 
walks with such careless skill. No one but a lady of 
1854 could do that ; it is one of the improvements of the 
age, and should be placed beside Morse's telegraph. But 
I have wandered from my subject, and who would not? 
What manufactory so large it would not be eclipsed and 
shut out from view by a lady ? — especially (as Jack would 
say) in such a sweeping rig ? The Manchester Mills, 
an another corporation, furnishes the cloth for the 
" Print Works," which at length comes forth bearing the 
names, delaines, bareges, cashmeres, Prussian cloths, and 
calicoes. The average number of lady's dresses turned 
out weekly is thirty thousand, equal to three hundred thou- 
sand yards! — more than fourteen thousand miles of prints 
per year ! — a strip of delaines more than half long enough 
to span the globe ! This quantity may, if necessary, be 
nearly doubled, giving employ to 2000 persons — 750 
males and 1250 females. After two hours' stroll through 
the spacious buildings, we retired highly gratified with 
the novel, interesting and instructive scenes which we 
had witnessed. 

Such are two corporations, the " Manchester Mills " 
and the " Print Works." Other corporations occupy the 
vast " water power 11 of the Merrimack, extending from a 
few rods below the falls to some two or three miles be- 
low, and along its eastern shore. Connected with this, 



198 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and also a part of the city, are the mills and machine 
shops moved by the water power from the river Piscata- 
quog, which at this point empties into the Merrimack. 
The portion on the east side of the river, where are the 
largest mills, the Concord railroad, and the principal 
business, was taken from the old town of Deerfield. 
The western side of the river, through which runs the 
Piscataquog, with its branch railroad and busy life-whirl, 
was taken from Bedford. The church of which I was 
the pastor was rather missionary in its character than 
otherwise — had no place of worship, except a rented hall 
on the east side of the river — were few in numbers, and 
were unable to support a pastor without aid. In fact, 
the ground was all occupied by the different denomina- 
tions. I went on in the accustomed course of those be- 
fore me, except that I delivered a short course of lectures 
on " English History," which awakened a little interest, 
and led me to an acquaintance with the several editors 
and publishers of the city papers, two dailies and six 
weeklies. 

A few months in Manchester gave me an acquaintance 
with the whole city, the suburb residences, and the vari- 
ous business localities of the place. I at once decided 
that the west side of the river was the point, both for 
usefulness and success. There was an old, unoccupied 
church, beautifully located, but no Sabbath worship, on 
that side of the river. I spent some time consulting the 
people living in the Piscataquog, as it was called, espe- 
cially those having the management of the old meeting 
house, and finally obtained the occupancy of the house 



Home, School and Church. 199 

for a few Sabbaths. Quite a congregation gathered ; we 
met with no opposition from the east side, who were 
duly consulted before the experiment was made, and 
affairs were quite as bright as we had anticipated. Alter 
a few weeks a meeting was called for consultation, to 
which all were invited. At that meeting there was a 
great variety of opinions, but all manifested candor and 
kindness, even if opposed to the establishment of relig- 
ious worship. Those who discouraged the effort were 
those living in Piscataquog, but connected with churches 
either in Bedford or over the river ; but almost all, not 
thus connected, were favorable to the enterprise, and 
gave it their encouragement and support. Among the 
most efficient and active, were the Hon. F. G. Stark, 
lawyer Bowman, and J. Walker, Esq. One party in 
the opposition said that the house was unfit, and if they 
should establish Sabbath worship it was not in a condi- 
tion to satisfy the families who would be expected to 
attend there. Upon this, I stated to the assembly my 
accordance with this opinion — that this argument was 
just. I said, "You ought to have, your families will have, 
a better house. Make this house what you want, and 
you will succeed; leave it as it now is, and it will prove 
a failure. Make an audience room in good style, con- 
venient and comfortable for four hundred, and a church 
established here will prove a permanent institution of 
the city, and a blessing to yourself and your children. 
You can do this without feeling the expense." Judge 
Stark, a man wealthy but cautious, who had never been 
interested on religious subjects, took the same view, and 



200 Life-Incidents oe R. C. Stone. 

in a few but decided remarks sustained what I had said. 
The vote was carried by a large majority to make the 
trial, and the necessary sums were raised within two 
weeks from the time of the meeting. A committee was 
chosen, of which the pastor was chairman, and the work 
rapidly progressed. Two weeks after the meeting which 
I have described was held, the following editorial ap- 
peared in the " Manchester Mirror : " 

THE SABBATH IN PISCATAQUOG. 
It is unfortunate for any village to be without regular 
preaching upon the Sabbath, without a church, without 
a Sabbath school and the usual religious meeting. The 
experienced traveler, we think, will get more of the ac- 
curate idea of the moral standing of the place by notic- 
ing the manner in which the Sabbath is observed by its 
citizens, than by what he has seen the other six days* 
It has been a long time since there has been any regular 
preaching in Piscataquog, till within a few weeks past. 
Rev. Mr. Stone, who has preached for a time in "Pat- 
ten's Hall," has opened the long-closed doors of the 
respectable meeting house there, has taken up his abode 
in that locality, and is in a fair way of having a large and 
prosperous society in that place. That part of the city 
is growing rapidly ; some of our best and most wealthy 
citizens reside there, as well as many of quite limited 
means, and it is very important that it should be under 
the restraining and ennobling influences of religious wor- 
ship. We attended a meeting there yesterday afternoon, 
and were much pleased to observe present a good num- 
ber; most of the chief persons of that locality, and to 



Home, School and Church. 201 

learn, moreover, that they intend to make it permanent. 
Rev. Mr. Stone is an admirable man for the place, liberal 
in his notions, popular in the pulpit and in the social 
circle, and possesses great discretion and good juagment. 
He has traveled much, understands human nature re- 
markably well, and is a very interesting preacher. His 
audiences never sleep or get weary, judging from the 
sermon we heard. We suppose that was not one of his 
best, as several gentlemen remarked to us, " You ought 
to have heard him this forenoon ; he had a great ser- 
mon." In answer to the question, How he was liked ? 
a man of good discrimination remarked, "Very much; 
we like him better and better." Glad to hear it. Our 
Piscataquog friends will soon need a more commodious 
church. 

The fall and early winter of 1853-4 saw the work and 
completion of our house of worship. Its dedication was 
attended by the Mayor, Aldermen, the City Council, and 
the Official Board of our municipal corporation. The 
success which attended us was looked upon with general 
satisfaction by all portions of the city, and greetings and 
congratulations met us on every side. From that time 
onward to the present, the church and its Sunday school 
has been sustained and blessed. More than this, within 
two years the liberal donations of a wealthy widow lady, 
whose labors commenced with our first Sunday school 
gathering, whose name appears among the teachers and 
children in the Bible presented to me on my leaving for 
the West, besides other donations to Hanover Street 
Church and Society, to Dartmouth College, and to the 



202 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Orphans' Home, have been several thousand dollars for 
remodeling the old church of which I have written, as a 
place of worship, and for the Sunday school. A few 
weeks since I had a letter from a friend in Piscataquog, 
informing me that this worthy lady passed away to the bet- 
ter life in September, 1871. Her example, her faith, and 
her labors of love remain with us to bless and cheer the 
many with whom she still lives in memory, and eternity 
only will reveal the blessings which are already descend- 
ing by her bounties and labors, to later and unborn ages. 

Within the first few months of our labors, a Sunday 
school was organized, with but few at first, as most of 
the children of Piscataquog were really or nominally con- 
nected with some of the schools on the east side, and 
until the matter of our permanence was fully understood, 
many held to their old connections with other churches. 
When, however, the repairs and alterations commenced, 
members came in, both teachers and scholars. It was 
understood that no special efforts would be made for the 
Sabbath school, and its library and furniture, until the 
house was completed and dedicated, and then its wants 
would be met as fast as circumstances permitted. That 
time had arrived, but the people felt that in the comple- 
tion of the house and its furniture (all was paid) they had 
been to the bottom of their pockets, and still the Sunday 
school and its wants stood before us. 

While the church was being completed I enjoyed the 
pleasure of a vacation, which I improved in a trip to 
Niagara Falls, by way of New York and the Erie Rail- 
road to Dunkirk, and thence to Buffalo. This trip and 



Home, School and Church. 203 

my return by way of Albany was given in nearly fifteen 
" Articles," entitled "Scribblings on a Journey" published 
in the " Manchester Mirror." I will give a brief sketch 
of this trip, with some passing " extracts" from the scrib- 
blings. " Some two hours' ride from Providence, R. I., 
brought us to Stonington, Conn., where some hundred 
passengers and much freight were hurried from the cars 
upon the Long Island steamer, and we were soon on our 
way to New York. Being quite weary, and slightly sub- 
ject to seasickness, I soon retired to my berth and slept 
soundly till five next morning. Upon drawing the cur- 
tains I found that I had verified the declaration, " The 
last shall be first" " We were in sight of New York, the 
boat was all astir, children crying, mothers hushing, men 
talking, greenhorns inquiring, chickens peeping, and 
roosters crowing, while the good boat ' Commodore ' 
rolled through the 'Narrows,' leaving shot-towers, green 
grass-plats and country seats behind, with the Navy 
Yard and Brooklyn Heights full in our view." One day 
in New York and the next morning at seven found me 
at the Erie Railroad station, on the Jersey side, adjust- 
ing myself for a four hundred and fifty miles ride to the 
eastern shore of Lake Erie. There is little of interest 
as we pass over the Hackensack and beside the Passaic*, 
a very pleasant stream, however, compared with muddy, 
slimy, fever and ague Hackensack, except that we looked 
in the distance on the " old house," the headquarters of 
General Washington and his staff during Sir Henry Clin- 
ton's occupancy of New York ; and further on, we were 
pointed to the spot where the bones of that huge animal, 



204 Life-Incidents oe R. C. Stone. 

the mastodon, were found. The skeleton was thirty-three 
feet long, with the bones entire, in a standing position. 
This huge frame was entirely enclosed in a peat bog. 
The highest bones of the back and head were two feet 
below the surface of the bog in which it was found, and 
the depth of the peat mass was six feet below the toes, 
showing conclusively that it came to its death by sinking 
in the mire. 

Onward we approach a more mountainous country, 
and are soon confronted with the Shawangunk ridge. 
Through this ridge the cut is fifty feet in depth and two 
thousand five hundred feet in length, with an upward 
grade of forty feet to the mile, extending to its summit. 
Emerging from the mountain excavation, and passing 
on, on for miles through the dark mountain forests., with 
here and there a side and a mountain embankment; sud- 
denly, almost as if by magic, one of the most striking 
scenes of romantic grandeur and rural beauty opens be- 
fore us on our right. The valley of the Neversink, an 
eastern tributary of the Delaware, appears outstretched 
in all its loveliness. In the distance, far as the eye can 
reach, the threatening aspect and frowning brow of sev- 
eral mountain spurs rear their dark green summits, and, 
like sentinels away in the distance, overlook the broad 
and varied space outspread on their right and on their 
left ; at their feet the gentle rolling river vales, skirted by 
large and beautiful swells of land, regularly laid out in 
cultivated fields, dotted here and there with orchards, 
and groves, and farmhouses, greet the traveler in the 
misty distance; while nearer, and in the vale directly 



Home, School and Church. 205 

below you, the Neversink rolls its gentle and placid cur- 
rent, skirted by its cultivated banks, its grass-plats, its 
dwellings, its gardens, its shrubs, its orchards, its arbors, 
its vineyards, upon which you look down, down, down 
several hundred feet, and all grouped and mapped out 
in surpassing beauty: Our journey was pleasant; al- 
most every hour brought before us some event in the his- 
tory of border struggles, of British warfare, or of Indian 
reminiscence. 

Passing from Buffalo to the Falls the breaks brought 
us up at Schlosser's Landing, a place memorable for un- 
mooring and setting on fire the little steamer Caroline. 
This place is near the rapids, and but a few miles above 
the cataract. During the Canadian Rebellion, in 1836-7, 
the British became suspicious that this boat was aiding 
the rebels, and determined to cut her c?rt. At eleven 
o'clock at night, eight boats, carrying about fifty men, 
departed upon this mission. As they expected, they found 
the little steamer floating under her own colors, in her 
own legitimate waters, lying quietly at the wharf, all her 
berths filled with passengers, locked in the quiet embrace 
of sleep. It is midnight 5 one watchman alone paces the 
deck ; he hears the splash of oars, and calls, " Who goes 
there ? " " Friends," was the quick reply. In an instant 
the deck is covered with armed men. The sleepers, thus 
suddenly aroused, sprang half-dressed upon the shore, 
amid the- cries, " Cut them down ! " " Cut them down ! " 
The last man that sprang on shore was the unfortunate 
Durfee, who, although he escaped the sabre cut aimed 
at his life, was brought down by a pistol shot after he had 



206 Life-Incidents oe R. C. Stone. 

reached the shore. The Caroline was then loosed from 
her moorings, shoved out into the rapids, about two miles 
above the Falls, and set on fire. On she goes, floating 
in the wild current of the Niagara, enveloped in flames, 
which lit up the whole mass amid the roaring of the 
waters and the darkness of the night. Swifter and 
swifter she goes on as she makes her last, her final voy- 
age. She rides the mighty rapid, lighting up as she goes 
her fearful path, until she reaches the awful precipice, 
and there, enwrapped in flames which flash high toward 
heaven, she lifts her form to the cataract's breast, and, 
amid the hissing roar of the contending elements, plunges 
into the blackness of darkness below ! A sinking shud- 
der pervaded the assembled crowds as the impenetrable 
blackness so suddenly shut them in. No word was 
spoken, a silent awe pervaded every heart, each one re- 
tired to his home, feeling within the depths of his soul 
that "it is an humble thing to be a man." 

Hark! what heavy, rumbling, earthquake sound is 
that ? It seems a mighty double bass coming up from 
the caverns of the earth to subdue the sharp notes of the 
car- whistle, and melt into harmony the tenor of the roaring 
train. On we rush, the engineer has put every instru- 
ment of noise in motion, as if to drown that heavy, deep, 
rumbling sound. Tis all in vain ; it is distinct, audible, 
almost felt, not above, but below everything else. It is 
the mighty cataract's roar. I am standing on a spot 
combining in its associations more majesty, grandeur, 
sublimity, awfulness, than any other spot upon the earth. 
" Go up that staircase — your are standing on Terrapin 



Home, School and Church. 207 

Tower, forty-five feet high, on the very brink of Horse- 
shoe Fall. Goat Island, recollect, divides Niagara River 
into two parts, the west and east. What is west forms 
the American Fall. The larger part, which is east of the 
island, forms the Horseshoe Fall. Far out in the rocky 
shallows, extending from the east side of Goat Island, is 
the "Tower" on which you stand, and it commands a 
view more wild, more sublime, more dreadful than the 
mind can grasp or retain. Take a survey of the scene; 
look upon those dark, boiling rapids, stretching out nearly 
half a mile to the Canada shore j see how the waves rush 
madly on, as if desirous to outstrip each other in their 
wild fury as they approach the dreadful plunge ; hear 
their hoarse voice, and angry roar as they seem to strug- 
gle for the mastery. Now turn your eyes to the right. 
Where are you standing ? On the very brink of this 
mighty fall — two hundred feet above the boiling cauldron 
which receives this world of waters. What panorama 
moves before you ! There are the islands, the rapids, the 
falling sheet of water, melting into foam and mist ; there 
is Table Rock, the Ferry, the Suspension Bridge, like a 
gossamer hanging in the air — all these are before you. 
But you cannot study it ; meditation flees before you, 
and in bewilderment you feel that you are in a waking 
dream. The scene is too overpowering, the mind too 
awe-struck for devotion, and it is only when we close our 
eyes upon these realities, only when imagination blends 
the awful lines of Omnipotence with the mellow light of 
love, that the soul kindles with a divine life, and looks 
from Nature up to Nature's God. Before taking our final 



208 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

leave of Niagara a few thoughts may profitably occupy 
our minds in connection with this wonderful river. Its 
length from Erie to Ontario is thirty miles, about the 
same distance as the straits of the Dardannelles between 
Europe and Asia. The straits vary in width from one 
to three miles. The river varies from eight miles to 
twenty-nine rods. Yet this vast river, 

* * * * " Draining almost all 

Those lakes and inland seas, with all their streams, 

On North America's great bosom lie," 

is forced at the whirlpool through a gorge less than thirty 
rods in width; and its depth is still more varied than its 
width, varying by measurement from fourteen feet to 
two hundred and eighty-nine. At one place we find it 
quietly sleeping, with scarcely a perceptible current, like 
the broad surface of the ocean ; at another foaming, and 
dashing, and thundering on in its mad career, 

" Forever flowing without variation ; 
And unaffected by what rains or storms, 
Or droughts, may come, as thus far has been proved." 

Farewell to Niagara. I would advise every one visiting 
this wonderful cataract and its surroundings, to spend in 
the examination at least two days — more would be bet- 
ter — having first made an acquaintance with the history 
and character of this grand display of the awful and sub- 
lime. I have twice since that time visited the Falls, 
once with my wife and youngest daughter, passing the 
Suspension Bridge on the route to Detroit and Chicago. 
I have written of our house of worship at Manchester, 



Home, School and Church. 209 

its completion and dedication; and now came up the 
condition of our Sunday school — in what way could we 
best accomplish the work ? It demanded not only a 
library and furniture, but also an awakened interest, giv- 
ing the assurance of permanence and success. A meet- 
ing of the friends was called. A slight disp osition was 
manifested to secure what was needed by contributions 
secured throughout the city from the several churches. 
Several ideas were advanced, more or less encouraging 
or discouraging; when I said, if the people will unitedly 
aid me, I am sure we will secure all the funds which we 
need in an entirely different way. It is by a dramatic 
illustration of the history of Joseph. I then stated my 
opinion, that the world has not a history better adapted 
to dramatic illustration ; that in some n ine or ten scenes- 
all the salient points and important char acters in the his- 
tory may be brought out ; and by several repetitions, on 
both sides of the river, we can secure all the funds needed,, 
ourselves be instructed, and the value and interest in 
Bible history be advanced. The suggestion was received 
with entire approbation. I then asked and urged the 
friends to encourage the children and young people to 
take hold of the subject with spirit, to have no fears of 
failure — that was a word which we were not intending 
to use in Piscataquog, for the next three months at least*. 
We immediately commenced, using two evenings each 
week for a month, speaking such dialogues and addresses 
as they then knew, and reading dialogues and other 
pieces preparatory to the " Illustration " when completed. 
This enabled me to select suitable persons for each par t 
14 



2io Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

in the coming public performance, and gave them confi- 
dence in their own ability to meet the demand. In two 
months from the commencement, " The Illustration " was 
completed, the parts, requiring between forty and fifty 
persons in the performance, all learned — the sack cos- 
tumes, the Egyptian's pink, the Hebrew's blue, all com- 
pleted — and the drama announced to come off in our 
Church on Thursday evening of the next week. We had 
no time for salutatory and valedictory addresses at that 
time, but a song was composed and sung, without mis- 
take, by Mary Stark, a little girl of three years, at the com- 
mencement. 

SONG. 

Good evening, friends, you see I'm young, 

Just started on life's journey, 
A little one of three years old ; 

So pardon every turn I 

Shall make from song both sweet and true, 

Within my bosom swelling, 
And bear my infant offering home 

To every cheerful dwelling. 

My mother says the Savior dear, 

A heavenly love possessing, 
Such little ones as I took up, 

And gave to them his blessing. 

And I do pray, with infant lips, 

When earthly ties are riven, 
An angel bright I may go up 

To Jesus and to heaven. 

" The Illustration " was then performed, occupying 



Home, School and Church. 211 

nearly three hours, with good success, and commanding 
the undivided attention of the large audience which had 
assembled, filling the whole house to overflowing. A 
lad of twelve addressed a few remarks to the audience, 
thanking them, in behalf of the Sunday School, for their 
presence, and especially for their money. I was about 
to pronounce the benediction, when Dr. Parker, one of 
our leading citizens in Piscataquog, said, " Mr. Stone, 
please wait a minute." As he spoke I saw some seven 
or eight gentlemen with him in low conversation, and 
almost immediately he read the following resolution: 
"Resolved, That this audience hereby expre'ss their hearty 
thanks to Rev. R. C. Stone, and the Sunday School of this 
society, for the new, the exceedingly interesting, and the 
very instructive entertainment to which they have listened 
this evening, and request that it be published in some of 
the Manchester papers." The vote was unanimous. 

About ten days after, the programme of that evening 
was repeated to a large and attentive audience at Smith's 
Hall, on the east side of the river. We found that our 
receipts more than met our necessities for wardrobe and 
other expenses in the " Illustrations," for church furni- 
ture, and for a large and well selected library. Some 
two months after this was completed, the society pro- 
posed that the " Illustration of the History of Joseph " 
should be again enacted in our church, and the avails 
presented to me. This was accordingly done, and a 
handsome donation given to the pastor. The work was 
printed in the " Daily Mirror," one scene issued each day 
till completed. Within a few months several churches 



212 Life-Incidents of R. C, Stone. 

in Vermont, in Massachusetts, and in New Hampshire, 
wrote for copies of the " Illustration " for enacting and 
impressing Bible history in their Sabbath schools. I 
give you part of a scene, a supposed conversation of 
three of the children of this large family, on the presenta- 
tation of the bloody coat, after Jacob retires, saying, " I 
will go down to the grave to my son mourning." 

Laban, Abel, and Meta some three or four years older than the 
other two. 

L. — Meta, is Joseph dead? 

M. — Yes, Laban, our dear uncle Joseph is killed by a wild beast. 

L. — Was it a. bear or a lion, or what ? 

M.— I cannot tell, Laban ; you saw the coat ; didn't you ? 

L. — Yes ; where is Joseph now ? 

M. — He is an angel in heaven. 

L. — Has he got wings ? 

M. — Yes, I suppose so ; all angels have wings. 

L. — Will he not fly down here some time and see us ? O, I wish 
he would! 

M. — Perhaps he will; angels do sometimes fly down to the earth. 

L. — Do all that die go up to heaven and be angels, Meta? 

M. — Yes, all the good. 

L. — Then my little kid that fell into the brook and drowned, and 
Ara's lamb, are little angels in heaven. O, I wish I was there. 

M. — I don't know, Laban, about kids and lambs going to heaven 
and being angels. 

L. — You said all the good went there ; they were good. 

M. — I meant all good folks, like uncle Joseph. 

Abel. — How can Joseph be in heaven, Meta ? The beast that 
killed him has eaten him up, or all but his bones, and you now say 
he is an angel up in heaven, and got wings ; it cannot be. 

M. — It was his body, Abel,«which was devoured by the beast. 
We all have two parts, a body and a soul. Joseph's body is dead, 
and the beast has eaten it up, but his soul is an angel in heaven. 



Home, School and Church. 213 

A. — Have I a soul, Meta? 

M. — Yes, Abel, you have a soul and a body. 

A. — What part of me is it which eats ? 

M. — It is your body, Abel, which eats and drinks. 

A. — Tell me what my soul does, Meta. 

M. — Your soul thinks, and loves, and hates, and is joyful, and 
sorrowful. Do you understand ? 

A. — Yes, I think I do. It is this : My soul thinks of my dinner, 
and then my body goes home and eats it. 

M. — Exactly so. The other day when I was at your tent you 
struck Elmer. Now, observe, when your soul was angry your hand 
struck ; when your soul is pleased, your face smiles ; when your 
soul is grieved, your face weeps. 

I also give a few sentences from the sale to the Ish- 
maelites : 

Judah. — Hail, strangers, hail! And do you ever 

Purchase boys to sell for slaves in your own native land ? 

Ishmael. — Aye, that we do. 

Have you some lads that you would like to sell ? 

Judah. — Yes, here is one. 

Ishmael. — What, that young princely boy, so beautifully clad 
In that bright parti-colored coat ? And, sir, 
If you had not him offered us for sale 
I should have thought, indeed, he was your son; 
Or sure he was your brother ; he is, good sir, 
So very like yourself! But sure this cannot be, 
For men, though in a very wicked world, do not 
Their children dear, nor yet their brothers, sell. 
He must be some young prince 
You in the wars have taken. 

Judah.— Your eye, far-seeing, has discerned the truth. 
But all this matters not ; he is our boy, 
And him we wish to sell. 
What will you give ? 

Ishmael. — We you can offer thirty silver marks. 



214 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Judah. — And let us keep the coat ? 

Ishmael. — Yes, that is what we meant. The boy 

We buy, and not the coat and boy. 
Judah. — Count out the money; he is yours. 

(Ishmaelites count out the money and depart. ) 
There, now, the dreadful work is done ! 
There's nought of Joseph with us but his coat. 
But, O, how dreadful is the deed we've wrought I 
My soul recoils with horror at the thought. 
O, my dear father ! what will Jacob say, 
Now his dear son from him is torn away ? 
Who'll kill the kid and dip the coat in blood ? 
Gad.— I'll do that deed. 
Judah. — And who to Jacob will the coat present ? 

Far off may Judah be — far off from his lament ! 
SIMEON. — I'll take the coat to Jacob, bloody, rent and torn; 
He'll think a wild beast hath devoured his son. 
All will be well. 
The dreams and the dreamer we shall see no more. 

Our society and Sunday school were now prosperous, 
and in early spring I moved my family to Manchester, 
with the prospect of a moderate salary and a progressive 
church. Soon after this I commenced a series of articles, 
some twenty-eight in number, entitled, "Amoskeag Fifty 
Years Ago," bringing before the mind's eye the shad and 
eels of the falls and rapids, together with the incidents 
and characters in all the peculiarities of those olden times. 
The Hon. William Stark, the White Mountain Poet, has 
sung, and with quite a sprinkling of truth, 

"That 'twas often said that their only care, 
Their only wish and their only prayer, 
For the present world and the world to come, 
Was a string of eels and a jug of rum." 



Home, School and Church. 215 

A happy change, like a bright sunlight beaming out from 
behind a cloud, has come over this, as well as every other 
portion of New England. The bloated face and haggard 
form of intemperance is hiding its head beneath the wreck 
of its former greatness, and temperance, with her magic 
wand, converts everything which it touches, not into gold, 
but into peace, health, competence and smiles. There 
were still many beautiful reminiscences of life around the 
Fall of Amoskeag fifty years ago — many noble virtues — 
many patriotic emotions — many praiseworthy acts — many 
excellences of character ; but the blessings are now truly 
great, and widely extended, elevating our race, develop- 
ing man, and brightening the morning star of a progres- 
sive age. Then the shad, and herring, and eels of Amos- 
keag fed a few hundred in that vicinity ; now there are 
profitably employed more than fifteen thousand active la- 
borers, giving the fruits of their labor to every portion of 
the civilized world. Few towns are there in these United 
States, some of whose inhabitants do not walk to church, 
meet their friends, furnish their houses, or sleep upon the 
fruits of Amoskeag labor. 

In early summer, during a visit with my wife to Provi- 
dence, R. I., we had the pleasure of examining the Vic- 
toria Regia, or Royal American Lily, a wonderful hot- 
house plant, in the garden of G. H. Chapin, Esq. The 
plant was growing in a tank twelve by fourteen feet, in 
which the water is three feet deep, and daily agitated by 
a wheel to produce the effect of running water. There 
were upon the plant eight full grown leaves, measuring 
between four and five feet in diameter. The leaf some- 



2i6 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

times attains the size of seven feet in diameter, and when 
a trellis frame is nicely adjusted, it will bear up a man of 
one hundred and fifty pounds weight. The flower con- 
sists of a large number of petals, fifty at least, entirely 
white, and semi-transparent, in three distinct groups, sur- 
rounding the stamens, and, when in full bloom, forming 
a flower of fifteen inches in diameter, resembling a mam- 
moth rose resting on the surface of the water. At four 
p. m. the appe arance was a monster rose half bloomed ; 
at six p. m. the flower was at work, the petals expanding, 
one after another separating from its companions, and 
with a kind of nervous spring rolling or throwing itself 
back, about at right angles with the stem. This con- 
tinued an hour or more until all had rolled themselves 
back, except the inner group, which stood firm and erect, 
a kind of guard to the stamens, which assume the appear- 
ance of a bright golden coronet, three inches in diameter, 
and rising five inches from the centre of the flower. Up 
to seven o'clock the petals were white and semi-trans- 
parent; but soon rays or veins of the most delicate pink 
began to appear, and, spreading over the white petals, 
m two hours the color had become changed, but none 
the less beautiful. We retired at about nine, leaving the 
flower in all its glory, and strongly impressed with the 
idea, 

* ' If God has made this world so fair, 
Where sin and death abound, 
How beautiful beyond compare 
Will Paradise be found." 

The warm sun of summer invited me to take a trip to 



Home, School and Church. 217 

cooler regions, and the morning of July 29th, 1855, found 
me following the iron horse along the banks of the Mer- 
rimack, over the Concord and Montreal line of rails, at 
a thirty-mile speed, toward the northern part of the State 
and the rocky summits of the "White Mountains." The 
day was pleasant; the dog-day sun veiled his face be- 
hind the clouds ; every one seemed happy ; the children 
watched every movement both inside the cars and out; 
and even the babies, of which we had some half dozen, 
crowed their joy in unison with the general good feeling 
which pervaded the motley group. Leaving the cars at 
half-past twelve we stepped on board the " Lady of the 
Lake," which in an hour landed us on the north side of 
Lake Winnipisseogee, at Centre Harbor. The day be- 
ing so fine for outside riding and observation, that I took 
the stage for the north, under the frowning brow of the 
Red Hills, the Sandwich Mountains, and " Old White 
Face," with its lofty summit pointing to Him who laid 
its foundation, and mantled its top with clouds. On, on 
toward the summit. Our company of forty were accom- 
modated by two coaches and one wagon, and on August 
1 st, at about four p. m., we stood in front of the old 
Willey House, a one-story edifice, painted red, with a 
chimney near the centre. Here, on the evening of Au- 
gust 28th, 1826, were seated the Willey family — the father, 
mother, five children, and two domestics — as the pouring 
rain and crashing landsides warned them of their prox- 
imity to danger. Probably roused by an unusual sound 
toward the mountain summit near them, they rushed 
from the house toward the little inter-vale by the Saco 



218 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

brook, but they were overwhelmed beneath an avalanche 
of rocks, earth, trees and water, insomuch that none lived 
to tell the story of their sad fate. Had they remained 
in the house all would have been well. A rock, about 
six rods from the end of the house toward the mountain, 
divided the slide and the house remained uninjured, 
while the loosened mass came thundering down on either 
side with overwhelming power. I stood in this humble 
dwelling, with the mementoes of the living and the dead 
before me. Most of the furniture is as it stood on that 
eventful night. There stands the old kitchen table, the 
fire shovel, the tea-kettle, in the self-same positions as 
when the inmates rushed to their impending fate. While 
seated upon the Willey Rock, that which divided the 
slide, J dated the letter and penned the notes from which 
this account is written. « 

The next morning the twenty-seven who were booked 
for a horseback ride to the mountain top, and, in fact, 
the whole household, was astir and assembled on the 
eastern piazza of the " Crawford House " to see the cav- 
alcade move off. Here stands Miss Sallie, attired in her 
riding hat and habit, and there a Miss Carrie, inquiring, 
Where's my horse ? Where's my horse ? with all the interest 
of a " Richard Third " on the field of Bosworth. Yonder 
is a careful mother, who stays behind, giving sundry scraps 
of advice to an adventurous daughter, as, under the eye 
of her father, brother, or beau, she is about to dare the 
perils of rock and mount. Now and then a few scatter- 
ing shots of wit were exchanged. " I say, George," 
shouted a young sprig, " I shall name your horse Rosi- 



Home, School and Church. 219 

nante." " Then, of course, I am * Don Quixote,' and you 
shall be ' Sancho Panza,' and now for the battle with the 
windmills." " Friend," said a respectable hirsute, " will 
not your glasses frighten the horses ? " " Not so much 
as your moustache. What do you say to leaving them 
both behind ? " " Good! - exclaimed a third; " fine im- 
provement, especially for the moustache man ; send for 
the barber." Thus, amid a swing of hats and waving of 
handkerchiefs, we rode off into the forest. We are on 
the way to- the top of Mount Washington, more than 
seven miles from the " Crawford House." Silently our 
cavalcade moves on toward the mountain's summit, as 
our horses tread with care along the dark mountain's 
brow, winding here, now turning there, occasionally de- 
scending, but mostly ascending up, up, up till we are beside 
a small sheet of water, called the "Lake of the Clouds," 
more than five thousand feet above the level of the sea. 
It is the source of the river Ammonoosuck, and in full 
view — almost under the frowning brow— the dark, frown- 
ing brow of Mount Washington, more than one thousand 
feet above us. Again we are moving on in silent awe. 
Scarcely a loud word has been spoken for the last hour ; 
every heart seemed to beat in unison with the silent 
grandeur of the scene. No prating jackdaws, with shal- 
low brain and chattering tongue, disturb the stillness of 
our path. The ladies, even so noted in America for hys- 
teric shudders and sentimental squalls, pursued their on- 
ward way toward the bleak top without a sigh or one 
trembling " O dear ! " as they cast their eyes adown the 
dark and awful chasms which lay along our path. 



220 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Among the twelve ladies mounting up our winding, zig- 
zag way, not a Lot's wife was in the group — not one 
in danger of becoming a pillar of salt by a backward 
glance, or a sigh of repentance that she had dared the 
perils of the mountain path. 

On the first day of August, 1855, I stood on the sum- 
mit ot Mount Washington. There, although surrounded 
by company, I stood solitary and alone. Few vestiges 
of humanity meet the eye, the noise and bustle of human 
life is silent as the house of death, and nought is heard 
but the rush of the storm wind and the roar of the distant 
thunder, while the rain was falling and the lightning 
flashing far, far down below us. A wilderness of awful, 
solitary grandeur, an ocean of wild, sublime, mist-cov- 
ered, towering summits in every direction shuts in the 
horizon and bounds the sight. An idea of " immensity," 
beyond anything I had ever before felt, fills the soul and 
holds it in trembling awe, as this picture of Omnipotence 
in its vast amplitude hangs before you. All returned to 
the Crawford House in safety, and two days later found 
me in Franconia Notch, gazing at the profile view of the 
" Old Man of the Mountain," and writing this letter in 
the " Flume " — yes, in the " Flume " itself— that wild 
mountain gorge, some thirty rods in length, from twelve 
to twenty feet in width, and its perpendicular walls of 
solid rock rising from thirty to sixty feet in height. In 
this rock-fissure — in the midst of a dark, tangled forest — 
in this wild freak of Dame Nature, when she hid herself 
in these mountain fastnesses, I am writting this letter, on 
this very sheet (no copy), and I wish you to print it just 



Home, School and Church. 221 

as I send it, dripping from fumes, not of king alcohol, 
but the Old Man's fc ale, which he pours out in copious 
libations amid this wild mountain scenery. Farewell to 
the White Mountains ! 

Returning to my home, I found all the dear ones well 
and happy; and in the Sunday school, on Sabbath morn-" 
ing, I spoke of that bow in the clouds, set by our 
Heavenly Father, and described my -recent position on 
the mountain summit, with the refracted bow below, in- 
stead of above me. 

In early autumn I received a letter from Rev. I. N. 
Clark, and also from the clerk of the church of South 
Elliot, Maine, inviting me to preach the dedication ser- 
mon of their new church, then just completed. I had 
exchanged with their minister during the previous year, 
had formed an acquaintance with several living there, and 
I cheerfully accepted their invitation. The journey by 
stage and railroad was refreshing and pleasant among the 
hills and vales of our own granite State, occupying nearly 
four days from my departure to my return. The follow- 
ing year the pastor of that church traveled westward 
through Missouri to Kansas, and returning by the Mis- 
souri river was savagely taken from one of the Missouri 
river boats, and put on the north shore of that river, some 
three hundred miles from St. Louis, for daring to question 
the right of slavery, and advocating the principles of lib- 
erty upon which our Union is now founded. Some three 
years after, I traveled the same route, when a gentleman 
on board spoke of the event, and pointed to the spot 



222 Life-Incidents "of R. C. Stone. 

where my ministering brother was left to make his way 
Eastward and homeward as best he could. 

In the spring of 1854, 1 think, a new paper was started 
in the city of Manchester, called " The Stars and Stripes," 
advocating, on moderate " Know-Nothing " grounds, a 
true Americanism, and edited by Prof. Tenny, Principal 
of the Manchester High School. At the starting of that 
paper, a committee of the proprietors visited me, wishing 
to engage me as a stated writer and correspondent. I 
informed them that I did not take the " Know-Nothing" 
ground, though, in many points, agreeing with what I 
understood to be their views of the right of foreigners — 
that I stood openly in opposition to the Catholic aims — 
and that I asked and demanded for our American com- 
mon schools the right to educate every child born on 
American soil. I then stated to the committee that I 
would accord to their wishes, retaining the liberty to 
write on all subjects my views in relation to individual 
right and political duty. They assured me that was just 
what they wished. I wrote more or less monthly, some- 
times weekly, until I left the city for the West. I subjoin 
an extract from a short editorial, at the closing up of the 
first year, I believe. I had in two series of articles dis- 
cussed " How Foreigners should be Treated," and the 
importance of " Compulsory Attendance, if Necessary, 
in our Common Schools." I had written over the signa- 
ture of " Clericus." 

our correspondence. 

" Our friend ' Clericus ' has stood by us from the be- 



Home, School and Church. 223 

ginning. We thank him. He is sound and clear, and we 
invite a reperusal of his articles. We assure our readers 
that he is a true minister of the gospel, a workman who 
need not be ashamed." 

In the winter of 1854 a course of lectures was got up, 
some twelve or thirteen, and delivered by as many differ- 
ent individuals, among whom were Bayard Taylor, O. 
W. Holmes, Calvin Stowe, Starr King, W. H. Milburn 
the " Blind Preacher," Henry Wilson, P. T. Barnum, 
and several others, with two selected from the pastors of 
the Manchester churches, Rev. Cyrus Wallace, and my- 
self. These lectures were well attended, and awakened 
much interest in the subject on which the lectures treated. 
I have forgotten most of the subjects brought before us. 
Barnum's was " Humbug ; " Wilson's, " The American 
Future;" Wallace's, " Europe, the Past and Present;" 
my own, " Silent Voices and Unseen Forces." The win- 
ter succeeding the 'season last mentioned we had an in- 
teresting series of lectures from Dr. Boynton, upon the 
science of geology, illustrated and made plain by dia- 
grams. These I attended, taking notes, and writing them 
out on my return home, sometimes occupying the last 
end of the evening, till twelve or one o'clock. These 
studies, and this close application in my pastoral duties, 
and my literary labors, had been for years slightly affect- 
ing my eyes, yet I had not seriously thought of their 
being diseased, ®r of their refusing me their assistance ; 
but about midwinter I was obliged to give up study and 
reading altogether, preaching several times with my eyes 
entirely bandaged, the hymns being read by another. 



224 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

In a few weeks, however, they were some better, but gave 
no promise of permanent strength, 

I had received a short time before, an invitation from 
a manufacturing company in western New York to an 
agency in St. Louis and vicinity. As my eye-labor was 
closed for the present, perhaps forever, I the more readily 
accepted the invitation, and soon made preparations for 
my departure. The Presbyterian General Assembly, 
learning I was soon to leave, voted an assistance of three 
hundred dollars per year, if the' church would accept a 
pastor from their body. The subject was taken into con- 
sideration, and, the pastor advising the acceptance, the 
proposition was with but little opposition adopted. I 
closed my labors in February, and from that time on- 
ward the church has been connected with the Pres- 
bytery. 

A few weeks before I left Manchester I entered the 
church one Sabbath morning, walked up into the pulpit, 
and was surprised to see every person, young and old, 
in their seats. There seemed an unusual smile upon 
every face. What could it mean ? Soon my eye took 
in the desk, and there, open before me, lay, not the pul- 
pit Bible, but a beautiful new volume, and on the open 
leaf a sheet of paper mostly written over. It was a let- 
ter directed to me, asking my acceptance of the fine vol- 
ume before me, from the Sunday School, as a testimony 
of their love and respect, assuring me that every man, 
woman and child connected with the school had contri- 
buted to its purchase. I replied, I know not what, but 
the language was from a heart surcharged with love ; an 



Home, School and Church. 225 

affection which does not grow old with years, as I look 
from time to time upon that surprise-testimony of early 
love and respect. I soon placed myself under the care 
of Dr. Williams, of Boston, Mass., received relief, and, 
following his prescription and advice up to the present 
hour, have been most of the time, for the last eighteen 
years, blest with a careful and cautious enjoyment of the 
organs of sight. 

Moving my family to Providence, R. I., I immediately 
left for Olean, Cattaraugus County, N. Y., the location 
of the lumber manufactory, in which two of my sons 
were owners, and of which I was to become agent at St. 
Louis. I arrived at our manufactory in two days after 
leaving Providence, and had intended, after stopping one 
day, to continue my journey west; but a powerful snow- 
storm detained me there. The railroad over the summit 
level of the mountains was completely blocked up, and 
the cars were emptied of their passengers and baggage at 
Olean. Every house had became a hotel ; every bed oc- 
cupied ; with scores of men and boys spread out upon the 
floors. The daily passenger trains brought up at this vil- 
lage from Thursday to Monday afternoon, when arrange- 
ments were made to attempt a passage of the Cattaraugus 
summits. Accordingly seventeen passenger cars, all fully 
occupied, being upon the track, and drawn by three 
powerful engines, we bade farewell to Olean, and moved 
slowly but steadily through the snow-embankments, some- 
times in the mountain cuts rising twenty or thirty feet 
above the tops of the cars in which we were seated. 
Having passed the summit level, some fifteen miles ; at 

*5 



226 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

about sunset we entered a cut shovelled out too narrow 
for the train. The engineer, perceiving the trouble, in- 
creased the steam power, hoping to force the cars through 
the narrow pass, but all in vain ; the coupling parted and 
left eight cars hopelessly fast, wedged in the snowbank, 
rising fifteen feet above their tops, and what added to 
the discomfort of our prospect was, it was one of the 
coldest nights of that cold and universal winter. The 
fear of suffering from cold was, however, soon removed, 
as within ten rods of us was a large quantity of wood 
piled beside the track, and the company officers had sent 
on with us a plenty of workmen, shovellers, choppers and 
laborers equal to the emergency. Engines had been sent 
to our relief. The conductor was untiring, the engineers 
and workmen labored earnestly during the whole night, 
but sunrise found us still there. 

It was amusing to study the character of that mass of dis- 
appointed men and women before me. Some were trem- 
bling with fear, and giving vent to their emotions by tears 
and sighs; others were laughing over the fears of the timid. 
Some were uttering curses loud and deep against the Erie 
Company, and judging from the froth and gall, ours was 
the last train that would ever run over that ill-fated road. 
Some were cursing themselves for being such fools ; if 
they had gone by Albany and Buffalo they might have 
been at home long ago, or successfully engaged in that 
speculation in which they were so deeply interested ; now 
all was lost. Some were fretting on account of their 
hunger ; they had had no supper, and didn't believe they 
should have any breakfast. Some were singing songs of 



Home, School and Church. 227 

mirth and jollity. Some were playing euchre. Very 
many were cheerful and hopeful, and some were speaking 
words of encouragement to those truly in distress. There 
was, except in a very few, a spirit of kindness ; and the 
ginger snaps, the crackers and cheese, the cold chicken, 
the cold tongue, and the sandwiches were cheertully 
parted among the company. Morning, notwithstanding 
our cheerful chat, our euchre, our songs, our thanks to 
the Father, was much behind time to us all. It came at 
last. At nine o'clock a. m. we bade farewell to the big 
snowdrift, and one o'clock p. m. found us both at break- 
fast and dinner at the Railroad House at Dunkirk, on 
the eastern shore of Lake Erie. Facts, when known, 
silenced if they did not quiet the grumblers, of which we 
had quite a number. These had been continually blam- 
ing the railroad, the conductor, the snowstorm, or them- 
selves. If they had taken, as one sleigh-load of young 
bloods did, a private conveyance, they might have been 
a thousand miles away; or if they had taken the Albany 
and Buffalo road, they might have spent the Sunday in St 
Louis instead of Olean. Sure they had been fools ; 
they should know better another time. Some smiled, 
but no one disputed them ; and among the sensible, I 
think, their own conclusions were generally admitted. 
Facts now confirmed their statements, not exactly, how- 
ever, as they expected; but they had been fools, and their 
frets and fumes had shown it up to every one who had 
heard them. The young men who hired the horses and 
sleigh, after having for four or five days floundered 
through the snow, and paid twenty-five dollars to the 



228 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

livery stable, arrived at Dunkirk about sunset, five hours 
after we had eaten our united breakfast and dinner. The 
Buffalo line arrived about three o'clock, some three hours 
later than the Erie train ; that, notwithstanding its delays 
and rest over night in the mountain snowbank, it was the 
first in from the East. The next day found me at Cleveland, 
Ohio, where I was detained over the Sabbath, enabling 
me to form the acquaintance of Dr. Aiken, for whom I 
preached the following Sunday. On Monday I took the 
cars for Cincinnati, stopping a short time at Columbus. 
The snow was passing rapidly away, and when we 
arrived at what was then the Queen City of the West, 
scarcely a trace of it was to be seen. I was on the track 
of two barges, which our company had sent down the 
Alleghany and Ohio rivers, loaded with manufactured 
lumber, destined for the St. Louis and Western trade. 
They had wintered at Cincinnati, and at the opening of 
the river had started on. 

My stay in this city was short, though I learned a few 
lessons of Western life. Stepping to a stall, kept by a 
German near the levee, I took in my hand, for the first 
time, a bowie knife. The trader very courteously said, 
" You vish buy de bowie knife ? " I replied, " I think 
not ; I was looking from curiosity ; it is the first I ever 
saw." "Ah! dey goot for travel; are you travel?" 
" Yes, I am going on the steamer to Louisville." "Ah ! 
den you vants de bowie knife." " O no, I think not." 
" No, vy ? you meets bad men, ver bad men ; dey insult, 
booze, hit you ; vat you do den ? " "I shall treat every 
man honestly, kindly, and with Christian courtesy." "Ah, 



Home, School and Church. 



229 



yaw, dat all ver goot, ver goot ; but 'spose you gets in 
corner, vat you do den ? — how you gets out ? " " Well, 
I do not think the bowie knife would help me; I can 
fight bad men better with honesty and Christian love, 
than with that instrument." "Ah, noo, noo ! mischtake, 
mischtake." I bade him a kind good-bye and went on 
board the boat. 

Down the Ohio, some sixteen miles, we passed the 
former home and grave of the lamented Harrison, who, 
so soon after his election to the Presidency, was called 
away to a higher life. His history had been familiar to 
me from my boyhood days, when long since he com- 
manded our forces against the Indian Prophet, and his 
gathered host at Tippecanoe. At Louisville, Ky., I 
learned that our boats had passed the falls on the Ohio 
about a week before. So taking another boat I overtook 
our barges near Evansville, Ind., a thriving town on the 
banks of the Ohio, having a large trade through the facili- 
ties of transportation afforded by the river, and a railroad 
leading to Vincennes, Terre Haute and the central por- 
tions of the State; and the Wabash and Erie Canal, 
which, running four hundred and sixty miles through one 
of the most fertile regions of the world, finds its southern 
terminus at Evansville, and its northern at Toledo, on 
Lake Erie. Here I stopped at the City Hotel, and inquir- 
ing of an inhabitant, he informed me " Evansville is a 
t right smart ' place, a ' heap ' ahead of Madison, and a 
'mighty' good chance to make money." Western peo- 
ple often laugh at the pronunciation and phraseology of 
the East, but a true knowledge of our language gives the 



230 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

balance of sensible laughter largely to the other side. 
Ask a Missourian, a Hoosier, or a Sucker a question, as, 
How many brothers have you ? If he does not understand, 
he will exclaim, " Which ? " Ask him a question which 
he does not know, as, When does your court sit ? He 
will answer, "You cannot prove it by me." I once asked 
a man as to his wife's health. He replied, " She was 
'powerful' sick yesterday, but she took ' right smart 1 of 
medicine last night, and she is a ' heap ' better to-day." 
Stopping over Sunday, I had an opportunity of making 
the acquaintance, somewhat, of the transient and perma- 
nent boarders. They were well-bred, intelligent men. Two 
were from Tennessee, and slaveholders, the one having 
eight the other thirty "boys and gals," to use their own par- 
lance. One of these men was both intelligent and candid. 
He was unprejudiced in regard to the North, and readily 
admitted that the North was more law-abiding than the 
South. In speaking of the " Fugitive Slave Law," he 
said : "Any law which we hated as you do that, we 
should trample under our feet ! " He admitted that they 
were wrong, and that our position was a higher plane of 
moral virtue than theirs. Sunday morning gave us a 
specimen of Western river morality, more savage and 
brutal than I had ever before witnessed. I had noted 
the unkind and ferocious manner of the mates on the 
few boats on which I had traveled, and thought, per- 
haps, they were exceptions rather than the general rule. 
I have since learned that it was the general course 
adopted, and in a communication to the " Providence 



Home, School and Church. 231 

Tribune" I stated that an Ohio river mate seemed a 
cross between a grizzly bear and a wild hog. 

Before giving the particulars of the trip onward, or the 
the Sunday morning adventure, as illustrative of river life, 
I will state that I reached St. Louis, for the first time, 
the latter part of March, and securing the object for 
which I came, was, before the close of the same month, 
on my way by railroad back to Olean, the location of the 
manufactory of which I had been appointed agent. 

It will be recollected in the perusal of these memoirs 
that they are not continuously tracing a line of life from 
point to point, but oftentimes presenting a series of inci- 
dents illustrative of history or character, or fact having 
the same moral, or social, or religious bearing upon so- 
ciety, but which may have been gathered from facts 
widely separated as to time and place. 

In a few days after my return we were prepared to 
float down the Alleghany river in two large flatboats, 
cabled side by side, entirely filled with manufactured 
lumber, and prepared for the accommodation of some 
fifteen persons (one whole family of six), who were to 
make a trip, full three hundred miles, from Olean to 
Pittsburg. The Alleghany, at this season of the year, is 
a noble stream, averaging, for the first eighty miles from 
the point of departure, about twenty rods in width, skirted 
much of the way by high hills, occasionally towering up 
into mountain peaks, and densely covered with pine and 
hemlock. One of the raftsmen — for the river at certain 
points seems literally covered with rafts — undertook to 
tell us the origin of the hemlock. He said it was none 



232 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

of the Lord's work. He made the pine, beautiful, grand 
and useful. Satan, beholding the beautiful work of the 
Creator in the lofty pine, thought he would try his hand 
and make one too. So he went to work and made a 
tall, big evergreen tree, but it was so shelly and shaky 
it would not hold together; so to remedy the evil he 
resorted to pins and pinned his work together, so that it 
would stand up proud among the Lord's pines, pretend- 
ing to be of the same family ; but every lumberman un- 
stands the matter, that it is only a sham, a miserable, 
knotty, shaky, snapping hemlock. 

Amid this world of lumber a few villages have grown 
up by means of the lumber trade, and are scattered along 
the banks of the river ; but log huts and board shanties 
are the principal evidences of human life which the tour- 
ist meets in his winding journey down this swift-rolling 
stream. Toward evening we reached the Indian Reser- 
vation. This tract extends forty miles along each side of 
the river, till it reaches the line of Pennsylvania, and back 
from the river about one mile. Nearly half along the 
river's bank is bottom land, and poorly cultivated by 
those primitive sons of the forest. At dark we cabled up, 
and before the rising sun had brightened up the hilltops, 
we were again floating with the current, when two hours 
brought us to the dwelling of old Peter Crouse, a French- 
man who lived among the Senecas nearly one hundred 
years. During the old French war, when a small child, 
he was brought to this place, and reared in all the wild 
and primitive habits of these children of nature. Reach- 
ing maturity, he took a young squaw to his cabin, reared 



Home, School and Church. 233 

a family of half bloods, and adopted the Senecas as his 
people and nation. The old log house, where Peter 
reared his nestling brood, is still standing, about twenty- 
rods back from the river, now degraded into a barn, 
while a new frame dwelling, a few rods farther back, is 
the habitation, where, some five years before I made this 
hasty call, he breathed his last. Peter, notwithstanding 
his early Indian training, evinced more traits of civiliza- 
tion than his adopted people. These traces appear in 
his better house, his better cultivated fields, and espe- 
cially in the fruit trees which he set along and .near the 
river. The trees are still standing, but give the appear- 
ance of age. Not another orchard did I see on the 
whole Reservation. 

Leaving southern New York we passed into northern 
Pennsylvania, and in half an hour we landed at the resi- 
dence of that renowned Indian chief, Corn-Planter. In 
consideration of his services in the war of the Revolu- 
tion, the State of Pennsylvania granted him two square 
miles on the northwest line of the Alleghany river, and 
here the hero lived and died. Up to the close of a life 
of one hundred and fifteen years he maintained the char- 
acteristics of his race. And, although he accepted a com- 
mission under Washington, yet, up to the time of his 
death, in 1854, he dressed in the Indian style, and fur- 
nished his house according to the mode of his fathers. 
He was genial, conversed freely with white men, often 
showed his commission under the great " American 
Brave " with evident satisfaction, and prided himself on 
his rank in the army of Washington. Our pilot, George 



234 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

D. Bandfield, was well acquainted with the old brave, 
and was frequently his guest in his river travels. His 
house, though twenty by forty, and two stories high, had 
no fireplace, and the lower story constituted but one 
room. The chimney came no further than the chamber 
floor, and was in shape something like an inverted fun- 
nel, giving vent to the smoke as it rose from the big, 
round fire burning in the middle of the large room be- 
low. A few simple utensils for cooking hung over his 
great central fire, supported by cross-bars above. A 
few dishes for the reception of food, a board about 
breast-high on which they were placed, a few stools, 
and plenty of skins, constituted his whole furniture. 
Not a chair, not a bed, or any such approximation to 
civilized life, disfigured his spacious mansion ; while the 
walls were graced with trophies of war, and hung around 
with specimens of Indian skill. 

A few miles farther adown the river and we reached 
what is now the great oil region, formerly known as " Oil 
Creek," then a region of little note. As we looked upon 
the "hydro-carbon " in its moss-colored dress, as it floated 
in the little river, we not once dreamed that that region 
would, within eighteen years, become the wonder of na- 
tions, and the light of the world ! Onward and still on- 
ward, floating down the river current, at the rate of five 
or six miles an hour, we reached Sand Creek, and the 
rock called by raftsmen " The Indian God," lying close 
by the water's edge, presenting a smooth surface of fine, 
bluish sandstone, six inches thick, on a granite mass of 
some ten or twelve feet square. This surface is entirely 



Home, School and Church. 235 

covered with hieroglyphics, most probably of Indian 
origin, which a little aid of the imagination easily con- 
verted into the " tomahawk," " the tortoise," " the bird's 
claws," " the beaver's face," " the snake's head," and 
other relics of Indian prowess or worship. The rafts- 
men, I said, call it " The Indian God." It may be such, 
but more probably a record of past events — a record 
which, could we call up the soul of a Pontiac, or a Mian- 
tonimo, would unroll the history of a past, on which 
death and the silence of ages have now set their seal 
forever! Passing the large salt manufactory, and the 
ironworks, giving labor to more than three thousand per- 
sons, we floated around the great ox-bow of the west, 
here named Brady's Bend, traveling almost a circle, eight 
miles to get forward one, and cabled up for the night. 

A beautiful morning found us viewing these wild scenes 
of rural beauty, once the arena of Indian warfare. It is 
the holy Sabbath, and river life upon a flatboat contrasts 
strangely with the solemn yet gentle stillness of a New 
England Sabbath. No family gathering hallows the ris- 
ing morn, as the father 

"wails a portion with judicious care, 
And let us worship God, he says with solemn air," 

No Sabbath school, with its smiling, rosy-faced children ; 
no " church bell chime " calls the children of men to the 
house of God, or points them to the gate of heaven. 
But the boat floats on, the rafts glide adown the silvery 
current, and the boatmen sing and bandy their coarse 
jokes, regardless of Him who delineated the river's wind- 



236 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

ing course and bade its waters roll. My mind wandered 
away from the wilds, through which I am now passing, 
to the beautiful city of the East, so recently my home, 
but now so no more. One week to-day I walked to 
church with " the loved ones at home." In the same 
slip, in the same congregation, I see them now. " What 
thronging memories come." The tear courses down my 
cheek; it is Sabbath here also: I feel my heavenly 
Father's presence. A voice from within seems to say, 
" Look up, this is your Father's house ; " and the prayer 
of my heart is, that I may be found in the inner court of 
his holy temple, until that, to me, eventful hour when I 
shall hear the summons, " Child, your Father calls ; come 
home ! " Monday brought us within a few miles of Pitts- 
burg, and the wind arising drove our boats upon a sand 
bar. This event introduced us to days of labor and toil* 
which the annals of business alone can portray, and the 
soul of a nervous, anxious business man only can feel. 

Ten days later our "flats" were in Pittsburg and sold — 
our freight, almost a steamboat load of itself, shipped — 
our passengers all on board, and we moving down the 
Ohio and making our way to St. Louis on the " Prima 
Donna," a new boat, said to be strongly built, beautifully 
decorated, and now just started upon her maiden trip. 
On the day of departure our boat was a scene of active 
life. More than one hundred and thirty cabin and deck 
passengers were cheerful and smiling, on this beautiful 
May morning, in anticipation of so pleasant a journey 
on so fine a boat. Even the few who had contracted 
the chills could not look gloomy or sour, but smiled in 



Home, School and Church. 237 

view of the good time they should have while shaking 
on the guards or in the cabin. The passengers with 
a generous frankness made each other's acquaintance, 
amusing themselves in the ordinary modes peculiar 
to river travel, which sometimes approximates too near 
the drinking saloon, or the gambler's resort to be 
consistent with moral virtue or true refinement. I 
ought not to omit in this description our piano, one of 
Chickering's best; and many were the lively strains which 
it gave forth, as touched by the fingers of beauty it ac- 
companied a sweet voice in " Midnight Hour," " Bona- 
parte's Grave," " Sweet Afton," and other kindred melo- 
dies. But greatest and foremost of all the sources of our 
enjoyment was our survey of the beauties of nature, as 
this panorama of living realities unrolled before us in tow- 
ering hills, broad bottoms, beautiful slopes, rocky bluffs, 
and thriving villages along the river's bank. Added to 
this were the reminiscences of past history. There, 
directed by the knowledge and kindness of J. N. Witten, 
I looked upon the creek where Col. Cresap, of bloody 
memory, shot the whole family of Logan, a Mingo chief. 
I well remember, when a boy of but eight years, of read- 
ing the appeal of the " old brave " to the Governor of 
Virginia. This is the close, in substance : " There runs 
not a drop of my blood in the veins of any living crea- 
ture. I had hoped to live and die in peace with my own 
people, with my own race, and with my neighbors, the 
white men of your nation. I should so have made my 
life in peace, but for Col. Cresap, who, in cold blood, 
murdered all my relatives, not sparing even my women 



238 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and children ! This called on me for revenge. I have 
sought it ; I have killed many ; I have fully glutted my 
vengeance. I am now ready to pass to the fair hunting 
grounds. I rejoice in behalf of my country for the beams 
of peace. There is naught to stay 7ne here. I look for 
my nation ; they are scattered and gone. Who is there 
to mourn for Logan ? Not one ! " 

In the same upper section of the Ohio river was the 
mighty struggle between Andrew and Adam Poe, and 
Big Foot, a. Wyandotte chief of enormous strength and 
power. A robbery had been committed by the Indians, 
and some ten, among whom were the Poe brothers, 
started in pursuit. The trail led them toward the Ohio, 
and on their way they became satisfied that Big Foot 
was the leader of the gang. They were now very near 
the river, and as they approached it, Andrew separated 
himself from the others, and cautiously crept to its edge, 
and out upon a shelving rock which projected over the 
bank, some twenty feet above the sandy, gravelly 
shore below. Cautiously looking down he saw Big Foot 
and a small Indian stretched out upon the sand, and 
nearly under where he was standing. Andrew took aim, 
but his gun flashed in the pan. The Indians were upon 
their feet in a moment, with their guns levelled ; ana at 
the same moment Andrew jumped the height of near 
twenty feet, striking the breast and shoulder of Big Foot, 
and bearing him to the ground with the shock, while his 
gun went off without injury to any one. Andrew and 
Big Foot struggled for dear life. The small Indian could 
not shoot lest he should kill his comrade ; so, throwing 



Home, School and Church. 239 

down his gun, he seized his tomahawk, but by the care 
and shrewdness of Andrew's movements he found the 
same difficulty. In the midst of this violent struggle 
Andrew disengaged himself from Big Foot, and seizing 
the small Indian's gun shot him dead. Big Foot, in the 
language of the West, again " pitched in." The struggle 
was still violent; neither having any weapon, it was a trial 
of strength and agility. Big Foot would always throw 
his antagonist, but Andrew was sure soon to be topmost. 
And now, either by accident or design, they in their strug- 
gles went farther and farther into the water, until they were 
twenty yards from shore. Sometimes one was under and 
sometimes the other, until it appeared the strength of 
Big Foot was giving way. Andrew redoubled his efforts ; 
soon there was a slight shiver, the limbs relaxed, and the 
powerful savage was no more ! The death struggle was 
ended ; Andrew was conqueror ! 

As the conqueror was resting from his toil, suddenly 
the dead Indian gave a spring, and in an instant was 
swimming for the farther shore. Andrew followed suit ; 
but now Adam, missing his brother, and hearing the 
firing, had come in full view, and was now standing on 
the rock from which Andrew jumped. He at once under- 
stood the matter, shot Big Foot, and put an end to the 
fight. Some years after, the Poes moved over the river 
and lived in Ohio to an advanced age. Standing in the 
wheel-house of the " Prima Donna" I had a full view for 
more than a mile of the rock from which Andrew 
jumped — of the scene of this thrilling life-struggle, with 
all its surroundings — the place where Big Foot was shot, 



240 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and where his whole company of robbers was slain. The 
locations of the above-related historic events were : 
Adam Poe shot Big Foot forty-five miles above Wheel- 
ing; Logan, the Mingo chief, was buried just above the 
same city ; and Cresap's Creek, where he murdered the 
whole family of Logan, is a few miles below. 

EXTRACTS FROM MY DIARY AND MEMORANDUM. 

Thursday, May St/i, 1856. — Got under headway early; 
delivered one hundred and forty dollars to clerk to 
deposit in the boat safe; stopped at Beaver and took 
two barges in tow ; reached Wheeling at eight o'clock 
p. m. ; called at postoffice; bought pain killer; left 
Wheeling at eleven p. m. ; soon stopped on account of 
fog; wrote communication for " Manchester American." 

Friday, May gt/i, 1856. — Cloudy and foggy; sun shone 
out at nine A. m. ; awoke at six a. m. ; the boat ran so 
still I was obliged to look out to ascertain if moving; 
passed Cresap's Creek; passed Blennerhasset's Island. 

Saturday May, 10th, 1856. — About two hundred miles 
from Cincinnati ; fair and fine ; wrote communication 
for " Providence Tribune ; " wrote wife ; arrived at Cin- 
cinnati at half-past seven a. m. ; called on Mr. Farlow, 
corner Sixth and Elm ; returned ; had a religious con- 
versation with friend on boat, and prayer. 

Sunday, May nth, 1856. — Fair and fine; arose at half- 
past five a. m. ; boat left Cincinnati at two o'clock p. m. ; 
went over to Newport, Ky. ; took in coal ; attached 
barges ; saw fort ; beautiful view of Cincinnati from Ken- 
tucky side ; river rising ; meditations on home and the 



Home, School and Church. 241 

dear ones there ; left Newport at four o'clock p. m. ; saw 
Harrison's grave. 

Going from Cincinnati to Louisville I made the ac- 
quaintance of a lady from Illinois, who came on board 
at Cincinnati, who was bred in Virginia, and who gave 
me some account of her life in these States. Her father 
was a slaveholder, and she was bred in the midst of its 
influences. She never knew her father to whip but one 
slave, and she felled her mother to the floor with a rolling- 
pin. Her father whipped her, and the mother insisted on 
her being sold. Her father consented, and she passed 
from the family. Once, when seventeen, while traveling 
on a steamboat she was taken sick ; a kind lady, also a 
passenger, watched by her, administered to her wants, 
and treated her with all the tenderness of a sister or 
mother. After her recovery, and she was able to be in 
the cabin, some one told her that her lady friend was an 
Abolitionist. She was shocked. If she had been a mur- 
deress the horror would have been no greater — shunning 
her in every possible way, staying in her own room to 
avoid her in the ladies' saloon, and escaping from her 
presence as she would from a monster. Some years after- 
ward, in Illiuois, she made the acquaintance of a most 
estimable lady, and to whom she became, for the short 
time she had known her, much attached. Judge of her 
surprise in learning it was the same who ministered in her 
sickness years before on the boat, and against whom she 
was so prejudiced in early life. Her views had entirely 
changed, her horror of abolition all gone, and the spirit 

of freedom and the love of liberty entirely taken its 
16 



242 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

place. What led me to her acquaintance was ; A slave- 
holder and family, with some four or five slaves, were 
passengers on our boat; a slave boy, of eighteen or 
twenty, had failed to please his master, and as he was 
reproving him on the saloon deck he added several kicks 
to the reproof he had given him. . The lady of whom I 
have been speaking was present, saw the abuse, and told 
the slaveholder he deserved to be pitched overboard. 
" That negro," said she, " is far your superior." The 
slaveholder scowled upon her, and said, " Lucky you are 
a woman." " Yes," said she, " it is lucky for you" She 
said that she could not now live happily in the State and 
society in which she was born. 

While our boat was passing the locks around the falls 
at Louisville, several of us walked two miles to Ship- 
pensport, at the lower end of the canal. This place 
contains one of the greatest curiosities in Kentucky, Mr. 
James Porter, familiarly called " Little Jimmy," alias the 
" Kentucky Giant," who lives here, and is the presiding 
genius of the place. When I arrived he was away from 
home, but came in soon after. I was prepared for " big 
things," big trees, big fields, big corn, big rivers, big 
boats, big cities, big women, big babies, big prairies, big 
stories, big swells, and big fools, but I was not prepared 
for big giants ; and when " Little Jimmy " straightened 
himself up I stood in utter astonishment. If I had 
spoken (I didn't however) I should have said, "Mirabile 
dictu!" "Horrendum informe /" The half was not told 
me. Ordinary men look like children by his side. His 
hand from the wrist joint to the end of his fingers meas- 



Home, School and Church. 243 

ures thirteen inches; his foot from heel to toe seventeen 
inches; and he stands, barefoot, seven feet eight inches 
in height ! His huge frame stands like a Colossus in 
clumsy dignity and affable awkwardness. His cane, five 
feet long, reminds one of the staff of Polyphemus, though 
" Jimmy " is no relative of the old Trinacrian, as his 
abundant possessions give the assurance that he has two 
eyes, and has through life had them both open. He has 
in his room a little fowling piece — for Jimmy is a sports- 
man — nine feet long, with which he now and then knocks 
down a brace of ducks; and he talks, and jokes, and 
laughs just as other men who live lower down in the 
world. He is lean and spare, and yet his weight is two 
hundred and seventy-five pounds, except just after din- 
ner, when it rises, he says, to two hundred and eighty. 
The world calls Jimmy an honest man, and all agree 
that in all the transactions of his eventful life he has 
never been known to come short. As our boat bell rang, 
and we came away, I grasped his hand and bade him 
farewell ; it was an eventful moment of my life ; I shall 
never again grasp a hand like that of the " Kentucky 
Giant." 

During my sojourn in the West, embracing some 
eighteen years, I have made some ten trips on the Ohio 
river, two only its entire length, the balance from Cin- 
cinnati, Louisville, and Evansville. I have made .six 
journeys up and down the Missouri, two to Council 
Bluffs, the balance to Leavenworth and Kansas City. 
Ten times I have traveled the Lower Mississippi to 
Cairo, and twice to Memphis, Tennessee. Once I have 



244 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

been to St. Anthony's Falls, making the entire trip from 
St. Louis to St. Paul and back by steam power. Six 
times to Quincy and Keokuk, and fifty times or more 
the first hundred miles above St. Louis. These, with a 
few times on the Illinois, and once up Green and Barren 
rivers to Bowling Green, Kentucky, comprise about the 
extent of my river travels. 

The course pursued by the boats on the varied rivers 
of the West on which I have traveled exhibit the same 
features, varied by the temper, intellect and special char- 
acteristics of the officers in command in their spheres of 
action. Each officer fills his place independent of all 
others — the captain his, the clerk his, the mate his, the 
pilot his, the steward his. The work of each is to be 
done; the " how " is the officer's own business. If any 
fail to do their work the captain reports to the owners, 
and an investigation sets the matter right. The mate is 
an important man in successful steamboating, as he has 
the hiring and the entire care of all the roustabouts or 
deck-hands. He must be reasonably sober, of great en- 
ergy and executive ability, though often rough, sour, irrit- 
able, profane, vulgar, and severe. An instance of this 
character took place while I was stopping in Evansville 
a few days. Before ten a. m. the " Yorktown," a New 
Orleans boat, came to the levee. The mate, who is offi- 
cial " fighting master" on every boat where it is under- 
stood to be necessary, and was very common on the 
boats of that day, had struck one of the deck-hands. The 
fellow, having an unusual amount of resolution, stepped 
on shore, and in twenty minutes unexpectedly had the 



Home, School and Church. 245 

mate arrested, and consequently the boat stopped. The 
trial was hastened, and the mate fined five dollars and 
costs. He paid up, and, with curses not loud but deep, 
hastened on board and prepared for departure. The 
roustabout, as the deck-hands are called in river parlance, 
going on board to get the balance of his wages (he was 
of course dismissed) was waylaid by the mate on his 
return from the clerk's office, where he had just been 
paid, was knocked half way from the top of the stairs to 
the lower deck and kicked to the bottom. The savage 
ferocity of the mate not satisfied, he seized a billet of 
wood, as he passed on, and struck the deck-hand over 
the head and back, who, with the rush onward and the 
blow, fell flat on the deck. The mate then jumped upon 
him with the most ferocious brutality. I expected to 
see him killed or disabled, but he got away and run on 
shore, when the boat immediately shoved off, thus end- 
ing this little incident of river life. The brutal ferocity 
with which the roustabouts are generally treated is un- 
known to most who have not been conversant with such 
scenes. The language of brutal contempt in which they 
are addressed by the mates, the profanity which marks 
their almost every sentence is unknown to the teamster, 
the cattle drover, the hog driver, or even the wild beast 
tamers connected with the menagerie. I stood by, on 
one occasion, and heard a contract to work on a boat 
between a roustabout and a mate. The latter was stand- 
ing on deck, the laborer came on board wearing a straw 
hat, the rim mostly gone, a checked shirt, with duck pants 
much worn, and a sheepskin patch, ten inches by tour- 



246 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

teen, covering the entire seat. The following dialogue 
ensued: Roust. — (Approaching the mate and taking 
off his hat.) " Do you wish another hand ? " Mate. — 
(Looking at him half a minute before speaking.) " Can 
you work like h — 11 ? " Roust. — " Ye — Yes, sir." Mate. — 
" Pitch in, then." The dialogue was ended, the roust- 
about went to work. 

Another incident at Cairo, Ills. The boat on which 
I left St. Louis, on a very hot day, was taking on a large 
amount of cotton. It occupied from eleven to three 
o'clock. One of the deck-hands, an Irishman (there 
were several in the gang), crept in among the bales and 
lay down, thinking himself secure from every eye. As 
well might he hide from the eye of Beelzebub, when 
gathering in his " sin-blossoms," as escape from a steam- 
boat mate. He saw where he was, but passed on in 
silence. Taking a rope, well-knotted at the end, he ap- 
proached the quiet, resting Paddy and commenced lay- 
ing on without mercy. Pat roared, the mate cursed and 
swore, and it was difficult to know which tune was pitched 
the highest. Such a concert of music has rarely been got 
up in any of our large cities. Pat finally succeeded in 
getting on shore, when he would be driven and scourged 
no longer. He seized a billet of wood and faced the 
mate, who, as several of Pat's countrymen made their 
appearance, thought best to stop. Pat screamed, " Come 
on, ye divil's own child, come on ; I'll send ye down te 
yere own master, where ye'll have no more use for that 
rope ! " The mate shouted, " Come back to your work, 
you lazy cuss, or I'll bring you back and put you in 



Home, School and Church. 247 

irons ! " " Work, is it ye're wanting ? " replied Pat. 
"There's only one more job I'll ever do for ye; one 
more job, and that is to dig yere grave ! That, bedad, 
I'd like do for ye, any hour ! " The Irishman was 
thoroughly aroused; others of his countrymen gathered 
around him ; every Irishman on board refused to work, 
demanded settlement, and were paid off. There was no 
trouble, however ; hands were plenty, and the work went 
on without delay. 

Such are some of the out-croppings of a system of 
unkindness and cruelty, which generally result in the 
degradation of both parties, and as a system makes no 
one richer or happier. Many — nay, most of these low- 
bred laborers, from whatever section of the world, are 
susceptible of nobler impulses. An instance in my own 
experience illustrates my point. A steamer was unload- 
ing, for the firm of which I was agent, some two thou- 
sand unfinished doors on the levee at St. Louis. Twenty 
or more roustabouts were engaged in bringing them off 
the boat, while one man, from the shoulders of the car- 
riers, was laying them in piles about eight feet high. 
Care was necessary in piling, that the tenon of the cross 
styles should not rest on those below in an adjoining 
pile; if the tenon thus touched, and rested on anything 
outside of its own pile, the weight above would surely 
break it. I was there to see that the property was unin- 
jured. I explained the matter to the man, a son of 
" Green Erin," who was piling the doors, but he was care- 
less. At length I unwisely became irritated as " snick " 
went another door, and impatiently I exclaimed, " There, 



248 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

you have broken another tenon, you jackass ! " Pat 
straightened up to his full height, and, looking upon me 
with much dignity, said, " Sir, I am not a jackass ! " I 
felt my mistake, and replied in kindness, " No, you are 
not a jackass ; you are a man y and as a man, who wishes 
to do the work .of a man, you ought not to allow my 
property to be destroyed." " Sir," said he, " not another 
door shall be broken. " I thanked him. He was true 
to his word. 

Among the river mates there are some noble excep- 
tions to the character which I have described. On my 
trip down the Ohio, J. M'Cabe, our mate on the Prima 
Donna, was a courteous yet energetic man, and during 
our whole journey of twelve hundred miles, from Pitts- 
burg to St. Louis, I never heard him address his men 
unkindly, or use a profane word. I several times con- 
versed with him upon the subject, and he assured me 
that the course he pursued secured more labor and better 
men than the ordinary course. In one instance, and but 
one, have I met a steamboat mate who professed to be 
a religious man. He was on a Mississippi boat, and 
from Madison, Ind. I was with him but a short time, 
about two hundred miles, and in all which I saw and 
heard he was true to his profession. 

River life on a steamboat, in any one of its positions, 
from the captain to the lowest roustabout, is full of 
excitement and interest, and attaches men strongly by 
the offers it holds out to its several grades and classes. 
In some of its conditions it is oftentimes quite lucrative, 
yet, on the whole, is fraught with toil, labor, hardships and 



Home, School and Church. 249 

danger. One of the pilots on one of my Ohio river trips, 
Thomas Phillips, told *me that since he had been upon 
the river he had been sunk on the Argus of Kentucky ; 
blown up on the Wyandotte at Maysville ; burnt on the 
Oliver Anderson on the Mississippi ; and blown up on the 
Henderson at Louisville. Truly he seemed to have a 
charmed life, as he was then a hardy, tough " Buckeye," 
and earning one hundred dollars per month by rolling 
the wheel in the pilot house between Cincinnati and 
Louisville. ■ 

Passing onward toward our junction with the Missis- 
sippi we reach the " Cave in the Rock " and " Ford's 
Ferry," marked in the history of the Lower Ohio, where 
were enacted scenes more thrilling and awful than are 
even the most appalling incidents of Indian warfare. This 
ferry, thirty or forty years ago, was a great thoroughfare for 
emigration, and extensively traveled by those leaving Ken- 
tucky, Tennessee, and Georgia, and seeking homes in Indi- 
ana and Illinois, being mostly of the class called in the 
South " low whites." The man Ford, whose name still sur- 
vives in the remembrance of the aged, and gave the name 
to the ferry where he once lived, outwardly maintained a 
standing of tolerable integrity, while he was indeed the 
soul of a band of robbers which infested this place, and 
made the " Cave in the Rock " the place of their rendez- 
vous. His shrewdness for a long time protected him, 
though he was several times arrested, but the proof to 
secure his conviction was always wanting. At length 
public indignation could slumber no longer. He was 
sitting one day on his verandah, outlooking the river from 



250 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

the Kentucky side, when some fearless spirit — probably- 
one whom he had wronged — sent a bullet through his 
heart, and thus freed society from its greatest curse. We 
looked into the " Cave " on the Indiana side as we 
passed by, and I walked on the verandah and looked 
into the house where lived and died this man of robbery, 
of cruelty, and murder. Imagination painted on my 
mind this last and awful scene of retribution. I seemed 
to see the old sinner, as, bloodstained, his soul passed 
from these scenes of his life-cruelties to a retribution as 
terrible as it is sure. 

This section of country in its early settlement was 
strongly marked with that lawless spirit which sometimes 
accompanies the territorial existence of new countries, 
especially as avarice and other forms of selfishness are 
quickened into life by the absence of any law-abiding 
principle, both on the free and slave sides of the river. 
In 1803 the Federal Government purchased the country 
of Louisiana from France. Our former territorial posses- 
sions, now the States of Indiana, Illinois, and other sections 
of the West, were from our own States, but this vast sec- 
tion, the recently purchased territor y, now embracing sev- 
eral entire States, was from a foreign nation, and bringing 
within our domain a people whose training in legal rule 
and Christian politics had been almost entirely neglected. 
I well remember, though but five years old, the excite- 
ment in New England on the subject of the " Louisiana 
Purchase." The inquiry was, " What can we do with it? " 
" It is a country of slaves, and robbers, and French and 
Irish refugees." It is now our own country ! Now we 



Home, School and Church. 251 

can take an early breakfast in Boston, step upon the 
Western-bound cars, and next evening take tea with the 
O'Fallons, the Bogys, the Lucases, and the Lacledes, of 
St. Louis, in the Mound City of half a million, in this 
wild western world ! 

Passing Cairo, we were now moving upon the Father 
of Waters, and at eleven o'clock next morning were view- 
ing the wild scenery in that mighty gorge, which seems 
the gateway to the vast bottom lands skirting the Mis- 
sissippi for nearly two hundred miles. The vast, rocky 
bluffs at this place seem to approach each other on either 
side, broken into huge, shapeless masses. On the west, 
rising one hundred feet above the water, stands the huge 
rock-pillar, called the " Grand Tower." On the east, 
directly on the river's bank, lies the huge but more 
shapely mass, some fifty feet high, as many in length, 
about thirty in width, and somewhat rounded toward the 
end. This rock is thus shown up in a poetic description 
entitled a " Legend of the Mississippi " — 

" It stands some fifty feet or more 

Above the river's bed, 
The legend claims this calcined mass 

Is but the giant's head; 
But modern stories, void of truth, 

With error interwoven, 
Declares this limestone pile to be 

The 'devil's own bake oven.' " 

While our boat was " wooding up " the passengers were 
mostly standing on deck, viewing this wild and grand 
scenery, especially this " cooking apparatus," noted as 



252 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

belonging to " Nickie-Ben," when one of the gentlemen 
remarked, <k I wonder if his majesty has ever had all his 
family home to tea ? " Another answered, " Probably 
not, but he'll have 'em all in some time; don't be impa- 
tient, you'll be likely to have an invitation ! " 



CHAPTER VI. 

The next morning found us in St. Louis. A few days 
of active, toilsome labor, and all things were removed 
to our warehouse, and our business, requiring the assist- 
ance of eight or ten hands in its several departments, 
begun. I found it necessary to use my eyes with great 
care. They had actually improved in the last two months ; 
still the necessary reading of the counting-room was all I 
could depend upon with safety, and for the first two years 
I did not read so much as two hundred pages of duode- 
cimo. The direction of Dr. Williams was, " If you read 
at all, the moment you feel its effects upon your eyes, 
stop." I have for seventeen years endeavored to follow 
this advice. 

After matters were regulated in our counting-room and 
shop, I started with some five hundred dollars' value of 
sash, doors and blinds for Kansas City, five hundred 
miles up the Missouri river, in order to open and enlarge 
our trade. The general trade to all points was both ex- 
tensive and active, and we shipped on a boat bound to 
Council Bluffs and Sioux City, about twice as far as the 



Home, School and Church. 253 

point of my destination. Our boat, the Arabia, one of 
the largest on that river, was loaded — nay, crowded — in 
every part. Three hundred Mormons, with their horses, 
wagons and goods, were on board, destined to Sioux 
City, and emigrating to Utah. About seventy-five were 
cabin passengers, and two hundred and twenty-five were 
down on deck. Of other passengers about one hundred 
were in the cabin, and a few on deck, with a large 
amount of freight. More than one hundred of these 
Mormons were from England, the balance from various 
sections, mostly from the river towns in the West. The 
company was initiated, and a part of their perma- 
nent organization, as I learned from a Mormon Elder, 
who was their leader, and to whom, when sober, they 
gave implicit obedience. With this man I had much 
conversation. He was a shrewd, well-read Englishman, 
and from him I learned the regular ascending line of obe- 
dience in their civil and church organization. It begins 
with their Prophet, Brigham Young ; next in power are 
12 Apostles; the next step gives 12 times 12=144 Eld- 
ers; these are followed by 12 times 144=1,728 Pastors; 
and last and lowest are 12 times 1,728=20,736 Teachers. 
The whole number of the last grades are not appointed, 
but may be when needed. The balance are the people 
of all ages and sexes, the hewers of wood and drawers 
of water, who, with the officers, constitute the Mormon 
Church. " The people," said he, " are in obedience to 
the Teachers, the Teachers to the Elders, the Elders to 
the Apostles, the Apostles to the Prophet, Brigham 
Young, and he is directly instructed by God." Thus all 



254 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

but the Prophet are the subjects of a complete despotism, 
both temporally and spiritually. The system of Mor- 
monism is admirably adapted to lead those who receive 
it to a course of submission. Judging by the company 
on the Arabia, they are uneducated, ignorant, but deeply 
imbued by nature with the religious elements — faith, ven- 
eration, awe. These soul-qualities are often found con- 
nected with the grosser and more sensual appetites, and 
both with ambition, the love of distinction, the love of 
power. Mormonism, then, has a plan for all these ele- 
ments — religious veneration, sensual gratification, scope 
for ambition, and all may be summed up thus : ist. All 
their associations of thought and action are religious, even 
in acts the most sensual. 2d. No field of sensualism is 
so large as theirs, even among the most low-down grades 
of heathens. 3d. The love of distinction is gratified to 
its uttermost by the great number of offices to be filled. 
I remarked that this company of three hundred, guided 
by their officers, yielded implicit obedience to the Elder 
when he was sober. That condition was not continuous. 
He was for three or four days, toward evening, quite 
drunk. This, I am aware, looks like a " big river story; " 
it is, nevertheless, true. I observed it the first day, and 
early next morning said to one of the officers, " What 
was the trouble with your Elder last evening ? " He an- 
swered, " To tell you the truth, he was tipsy." He was 
so every day, until the " bar " shut down on him — i. e., 
refused to sell to him. It was indeed strange that men 
and women, who had mingled in ordinary life-scenes 
could believe a man inspired by God, uttering the words 



Home, School and Church. 255 

of truth and salvation, and yet daily drunk ! known and 
acknowledged to be drunk by the very men whom he was 
professedly leading to heaven. 

The evening we left St. Louis I formed the acquaint- 
ance of a young man of apparent refinement, of general 
intelligence and pleasing manners. As we were sitting 
in the cabin after supper, the tables midway were arranged, 
producing a general stir among all classes. "What now ? " 
exclaimed my young friend. A moment after a man, 
seating himself by the prepared table, displayed to our 
view several thousands in gold, and, with the shuffle and 
cut of a pack of cards, and his own earnest invitation, 
called our attention to the beauties, the pleasures and 
certain hopes of immediate wealth by attending to the 
game of " three card monte." The cabin was thronged. 
The curtain to the ladies cabin was withdrawn, and not 

"Listening angels leaned from heaven to hear," 
But 

Listening ladies (leaned, yes, came, looked), without a fear. 

The man of cards explained, displayed, amplified and 
invited to the feast of wealth spread out before us. 
Only one man, and he apparently by earnest persuasion, 
touched this mine of wealth and glory. He appeared to 
play cautiously, winning about three chances in five, the 
stakes varying from five to ten dollars, and thus his pile 
of eagles and half eagles slowly increased. His success, 
as piece after piece was added to his shining heap, seemed 
to create an uneasiness, an itching of the fingers among 
some of the crowd, and wallets were opened, and pockets 



256 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

fingered, and fives and tens brought to light. I endeav- 
ored to discourage, to whisper a word of caution, and 
restore quiet whenever uneasiness was in my reach; 
especially I cautioned a young man who had just com- 
menced trade at Council Bluffs, to whom I had sold 
goods in St. Louis. And the same course was adopted 
by a young lawyer of Sioux City, who whispered words 
of wisdom and warning to those feeling the pressure. 
What much surprised me was, the young man of whom 
I spoke, as intelligent and refined, came up, made a bet 
of ten dollars, won it, took the money and went out of 
the crowd. The man of cards shouted after him, " Here, 
come back! it is not honorable among gentlemen to 
sneak off as soon as they have won a small bet." But 
he was gone. In about fifteen minutes he returned and 
risked another five. The man of cards said, " Hello ! 
you back ? Want another ten, don't ye ?" His answer was, 
putting his forefinger on the half eagle, " That's my bet." 
He won it, and, as before, went off again. The man of 
cards, looking around upon his company, said, " That's 
a mean pup ! " Two hours were spent, no more risks 
appeared, the lookers-on gradually drawing off, the 
"player" gathered up his treasures, and the scene was 
closed. Next morning we were at St. Charles, when, 
much to my surprise, the gambler and the two men who 
had bet at his " monte table " the evening before, both 
of whom were accomplices to draw in others, together 
left the boat. As they stepped off and walked up the 
levee, a gentleman on the boat shouted, " Three cheers 
for the gambler and his stool-pigeons ! " The call was 



Home, School and Church. 257 

met by a hearty response from all the passengers. I 
began to think my refined, intelligent, pleasing acquaint- 
ance was, indeed, a very fine fellow ! Scenes of a simi- 
lar character were not uncommon on most of the rivers 
at that period, but is, I believe, now practiced to a far 
less extent ; indeed, a large number of the principal river 
lines prohibit playing cards for money by posted adver- 
tisement upon their boats. 

About the year 1861, as I was coming from Memphis 
up the Mississippi, I noticed late in the evening four or 
five were engaged with cards, having quite a show of 
bank bills before them on the table. An hour after, just as 
I was about to retire for the night, a man came weeping 
and loudly sobbing toward the ladies' cabin. I, observ- 
ing that he was one of the men at that gaming table, 
inquired the cause of his troubles. He informed me, 
through his sighs and sobs, that those men had taken 
from him all his money, amounting to about four hun- 
dred dollars. He had been below working as a small 
railroad contractor, had saved that money to pay for a 
house and lot which he had bought near Cairo, as a 
home for his mother and sister. They, with him had 
arrived from Ireland within two years, and he now was 
on his way home to make the dear ones happy ; now all, 
every dollar, was gone ! My sympathy was moved ; we 
were landing at a small place ; I determined, if time per- 
mitted, to have the guilty parties arrested, and stepped 
on shore; but the gamblers, when I returned, had left 
the boat, and were gone, no one knew where; the poor 
fellow could gain no redress. 
17 



258 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Occasionally a gambling scene casts a different shadow, 
leaving these midnight prowlers themselves in the dark, 
and throwing their victims out into the sunlight. Such a 
case occurred when I was traveling on the Ohio, between 
Evansvilje and Cairo. A young German with his wife and 
child were on board. In the evening, after the wife and 
child had retired to their state-room, the man went to a 
gaming table. Fortunately he had but ten dollars with 
him, his wife having taken by far the largest part. He 
played until he had lost the amount in his pocket, and 
then, assuring the winners that his wife had quite a sum, 
they continued their game until he was in debt some 
twenty dollars more. The gamblers now insisted that 
he should get his money and pay up. He went to the 
state-room, told his wife the sad story, she promptly 
refused to hand over a dollar, and, instead of going back 
and reporting to headquarters, he went to bed. My 
state-room was near to his. Soon a thumping against 
his door awakened me. The gamblers thumped, talked, 
threatened and thumped again, but no answer from within ; 
the man, and wife, and baby were all asleep. They 
threatened to whip him, to pitch him overboard, to kill 
baby, but all to no purpose ; they would not wake up. 
The watchman, hearing the noise, put a stop to the pro- 
ceedings, and an hour after midnight the disturbance 
ceased. Next morning, as we gathered around the break- 
fast table, one of the gamblers said to the other, " You 
don't intend to pitch into him before all these ladies ? " 
« I do." " Poh ! you don't ? " " You see." The bell 
rang; I had taken my seat, when, directly opposite from 



Home, School and Church. 259 

me, the gambler sprang about five feet toward the head 
of the table and seized the German by the collar, who 
held him ofX Within two minutes the clerk with two 
strong boat hands had the gambler in their grasp, and 
sooner than you can read this story had him on the lower 
deck, off into a small boat, and sailing for the woodland 
shore, where he was left alone to his meditations and his 
joys. The breakfast had been delayed a few minutes 
on account of this drama, when we all rather joyfully 
returned to our steak and coffee. Breakfast over, the 
German and his wife gave me many of the above facts 
which the last night's darkness had failed to disclose. 
Such were, twenty years ago, some of the results of gam- 
bling with cards, strongly impressing my mind with the 
idea, that if I had a son whose business or pleasure led 
him up or down our mighty Western rivers, I should be 
happy in the thought that he never learned those gam- 
bler's games by his father's fireside. 

This was the year of the Kansas war. Leavenworth 
had been attacked. Governor Shannon, in his stupidity, 
blustering and shivering, was about equally afraid of each 
side. The Committee of Investigation, appointed by Con- 
gress, were in the Territory attending to their duties 
There was much excitement, as the subject occupied a 
large share of public attention. At Boonville, a town 
about half way to Kansas City, some twenty rough, half- 
intoxicated, ill-bred men, armed in various ways — mus- 
kets, rifles, revolvers and bowie knives — came on board 
on their way, as they said, to protect Missouri against the 
niggers and Yankees. They reported several skirmishes 



260 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and more men were needed. Mingling with them freely, 
I did not hesitate to avow, in cheerful kindness, my oppo- 
sition to slavery. " As ye would that men should do 
unto you, do ye even so unto them," I stated was the 
basis of my views, and it was recognized by the leader 
of this company. Nothing like unkindness followed. 
Early on Sunday morning the lawyer ot whom I spoke, 
from Sioux City, inquired of me if I was a minister; if 
so, he wished me to preach on the boat. I replied that 
I was a Congregational minister, at the same time offer- 
ing him a testimonial from our religious body. He re- 
plied, " No, I do not care to read it ; we have seen you 
a week on this boat." The service was arranged at 
eleven o'clock. About an hour after, the leader of the 
rifles and'revolvers called also, asking me to preach. I 
informed him of the arrangement. At our service we had 
quite an audience; most of the Mormons of the cabin 
were present, and a few crept up from the deck below. 
My subject was " Christian Character in Common Life," 
living out the principles of truth, love, faith, justice, hon- 
esty, equal rights, asking no more than we are willing to 
grant. The remarks were listened to with great apparent 
interest. About an hour after the services closed, the 
leader of the rifles and revolvers called upon me, asking 
me, after expressing his thanks for my sermon, to go 
with him and take something to drink. I thanked him 
for his courtesy and kindness, telling him I did not 
drink intoxicating liquors. " Yes," said he, " I know 
you do not drink as we do, but take something — some 
wine; you drink that?" " No," I said, not any wine." 



.Home, School and Church. 261 

He looked astonished. I then spoke some two or three 
minutes of the value of entire abstinence, and we parted 
in kindness. 

Our boat was at the levee, Kansas City, at seven 
o'clock Sunday evening, and there, arranging matters for 
the night, I stopped at the "American Hotel." At the 
breakfast table next morning I met and was introduced 
to the Committee for investigating the Kansas difficulties, 
and that evening they left on the steamer " Polar Star " 
on their return to Washington. Through the whole of 
that day the excitement was intense. Missouri soldiers 
and bands of volunteers were anxious to do something, 
they knew not what, to cast out the spirit of freedom 
and effectually prevent it from getting a firm footing in 
Kansas. Poor, deluded souls ! The spirit, and soul, and 
body of freedom was already there, and standing upon a 
rock — yes, a rock against which the gates of bondage 
could never, never prevail. On Wednesday, the eleventh 
of June, 1856, I walked two miles to Kansas river, and 
passing over entered the Territory, now the State of Kan- 
sas, into that portion granted to the Wyandotte nation, 
then numbering between five and six hundred. I traveled 
several miles among their settlements, went up to their 
church and to their Council House, and toward evening, 
returning to Kansas City, left for St. Louis on the " Star of 
the West." Before stepping upon the boat, I ought to say 
the leading Missourians in Kansas City had demanded a 
change of affairs in the American Hotel. Eldredge, the 
owner of the hotel at Lawrence, Kansas, which had been 
destroyed, was a brother of Eldredge, the owner of the 



262 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

American Hotel here in Kansas City, Missouri. And 
now certain pro-slavery men here, said to Eldredge of 
this place, " Sell us your hotel for so much, or we will 
demolish it as we did your brother's in Lawrence ; take 
your choice." Eldredge choose to sell, as mob law was 
then the rule in Kansas and that part of Missouri ; and 
the hotel, while I was boarding there, passed into other 
hands, consequently I paid part of my bill to anti-slavery 
and part to pro-slavery. On my return, active business 
flowed in upon us, and in eighteen days from the time I 
took the "Star of the West" at Kansas City, I had 
traveled by boat to St. Louis, five hundred miles; to 
Cairo, two hundred miles; to Evansville and back to St. 
Louis, eight hundred miles — in all one thousand five hun- 
dred miles — had sold two natboats, one at Cairo and 
one at Evansville, and more than four thousand five hun- 
dred dollars' value of goods in the city, and at the places 
I had visited. And now, on this twenty-ninth day of 
June, I took the cars for some point near Cincinnati, to 
attend to a lot of goods of the value of about one thousand 
five hundred dollars, which had been sunk on the steamer 
a Moderator," on Rising Sun bar, on the Ohio. 

Arriving at Lawrenceburg, I took a private convey- 
ance down the river, some fifteen or sixteen miles, to 
Rising Sun, where the boat had been sunk on which our 
goods had been shipped. The boat was raised and at 
the levee. Leaving my driver and carriage on the street, 
in full view of the boat, I ran on board, that I might 
learn if she was in running order. I was informed that 
she would leave in about two hours. Turning, I waved 



Home, School and Church. 263 

my hand, and the darkey drove off. I stepped on board, 
made further inquiries, and learned that all the goods 
which had been sunk were sent back to Cincinnati. I 
ought to have known that the wet and damaged goods 
were not likely to be on the boat, but I did not until now. 
I ran off the boat, up the hill, and shouted for the darkey, 
but he was gone. If I had rode back with him I might 
have been in Cincinnati the same evening; but now I must 
wait here until to-morrow morning at six o'clock, when an 
omnibus runs to the railroad at Lawrenceburg. O, fool- 
ish man ! I was, indeed, provoked at my own stupidity, 
and could scarcely rest. 

At six next morning I left in the omnibus with another 
passenger, a gentleman, who proved to be the " Insur- 
ance Agent . for the State of Indiana." He was genial 
and sociable, and, on hearing my business, informed me 
just what I most needed to know. He said, " The goods 
sunk upon the boat, yours among the rest, are taken to 
Cincinnati, and will be sold to-day or to-morrow, if no 
one appears to pay or give surety for the salvage — i. <?., 
what it has cost to save them, and the probability is 
they will be sold very low. You ought to be there, espe- 
cially if thev are needed in your business, to buy them 
in ; for, if sold to others, you cannot without great addi- 
tional expense get them back." He also informed me 
in what part of the city I should most likely find them, 
and gave me the auctioneers' names to whom they were 
most likely sent. 

On my arrival at Cincinnati I soon found the goods 
saved from the " Moderator." An examination, however, 



264 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

proved that about one-fourth of those for which I was in 
search had been sold, but fortunately had not been re- 
moved, and the sale of the balance to come off in a few 
hours. The commission merchant was very honorable 
and accommodating, giving me all the information in his 
power, and pointing me to the man to whom our goods 
were sold yesterday. On my asking the purchaser what 
I should give him for the lot, he replied, " Give me five 
dollars and the sale may be transferred to you." I 
accepted his offer, and then prepared for the coming 
sale. 

The whole mass, comprising the boat's entire loading, 
was sold, as, in case of insurance, the underwriters pre- 
ferred a public sale to taking charge of the goods them- 
selves. In the course of the day the whole of our entire 
lot was reached, and every parcel secured to our com- 
pany for less than fifty-eight dollars. All this was effected 
through the information received from that State Insurance 
Agent, during my morning ride in the omnibus, whose 
acquaintance I made by stopping over night at Rising Sun. 
If I had reached Cincinnati late the evening before, 
ignorant as I was of that process of legal action, I should, 
in that city of two hundred thousand, have gained that 
knowledge only step by step, and the goods would have 
been sold, delivered and gone before I could have learned 
the necessary steps to reach them. My shocking mistake 
in sending back my hired team, saved, by God's overrul- 
ing blessing, more than two thousand dollars to our com- 
pany in their sales at St Louis. Such results are more 
common than we often imagine. The cruel sale of 



Home, School and Church. 265 

Joseph by his wicked brethren saved the whole house- 
hold of Jacob from death by famine. Life is full of 
these overrulings of a Divine Hand. The Rev. A. W. 
Corey, of Illinois, was seriously affected by a physical diffi- 
culty when about twenty-five. He went from Cincinnati 
to Philadelphia to consult an able physician. While there 
he made the acquaintance of the Directors of the Ameri- 
can Sunday School Union, formed the year before, and 
was induced to accept the agency of the Valley of the 
Mississippi. He has been in that work forty-eight years, 
and has, by himself and assistants, founded 24,554 Sun- 
day schools, which numbered 1,265,394 at their forma- 
tion; has sold of Sunday school books in value $150,810 ; 
collected in donations $57,033. All this from that sick- 
ness which, by its pains, sent him to Philadelphia for 
relief. O ! who shall calculate amid the numberless host 
of heaven the souls introduced there by this one moving 
of the finger of God ? 

On my retiring to rest, after the toils and labors of this 
eventful day, as I knelt beside my bed I said, " O my 
Heavenly Father, I will never again distrust thy divine 
providence — thy merciful, guiding hand ! " The informa- 
tion received from that insurance agent, as we rode on- 
ward to Lawrenceburg, enabled me to secure to our com- 
pany, and to parties purchasing of us in several instances, 
much that would otherwise have been lost. 

The chaos of human life in its plans, and intrigues, and 
disappointments, where we can see no light — that dark 
mass, and confusion, and disorder, which drives us to say, 
as it did old Jacob, " I will go down to the grave to my 



266 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

son mourning," and all light, and peace, and salvation, 
not only in the great, but in the small things which en- 
circle the humble, good man who is loving and serving 
his God; by careful observation, we shall find, are 
as really under a Divine guidance, as was Joseph 
in the wonderful scenes connected with his eventful 
life ! Not as great, not as wonderful, not as grand, but 
as eventful — as truly under the guidance of a Divine 
hand, but leaving us, as it did him, to free action; and still 
by an Infinite Wisdom overruling the whole course, so as 
to make every event subserve the designs of his wise 
and righteous government! Not always, perhaps, as we 
think best for us, but as is really best for the elevation 
of the soul. The true happiness of man depends on 
springs too nice and too delicate to be fitted and adjusted 
by our own fingers ; yes, and oftentimes, when our plans 
have succeeded, and we have applauded our own wisdom, 
and sat down to bask in the sunshine of our own pros- 
perity, we have been astonished to find enjoyment was 
not there — it is only found by reliance o?i God. 

This year, early in autumn, my wife came West, and 
we, with some twenty others, boarded with a lady of 
intelligence and refinement near the centre of the city. 
In this circle, the largest portion having Southern pro- 
clivities, we remained about six months. It was the year 
of the Presidential struggle between Buchanan and Fre- 
mont, the former of whom was elected by a large ma- 
jority — in fact, there was no electoral ticket for Fremont 
in Missouri. Almost every day brought out some attack 
upon the North — some joke at their expense — some slur 



Home, School and Church. 267 

upon Northern industry or talent, or aims in relation to 
slavery and the South, in which the most ridiculous ideas 
imaginable were stated as truths. For the first two or 
three weeks I remained quiet, now and then asking a 
question, or started a query, but very quiet. 

Once, from some point in the conversation, I started 
the query, whether the negroes were capable of support- 
ing themselves. On this point it was affirmed, and 
proved beyond a doubt (to their minds), that the only 
chance for the life of the race was in being owned, and 
fed, and clothed by a master. Very soon, next day I 
think, one of the gentleman, having been home out in 
the country, told us what a smart " nig " his uncle had — 
had the whole care of the farm, worked " overseed" 
hands, bought and sold — in fact, relieved his uncle from 
all care. Another, stimulated by this account, said his 
brother had " two boys " (a common name for slaves) 
with whom he left his farm six months or more while he 
went to Europe. Another said his father had a nigger 
who saved money by overwork, then speculated in pigs, 
finally bought his freedom, and now had a nice home of 
his own. Here silence ensued for a minute, except the 
occasional tick of knives, cups and plates, when I said, 
" Go on, gentlemen, you are bringing strong arguments to 
prove that the negroes cannot support themselves ! " 
Glances were exchanged around the tables, especially by 
the ladies, embellished by a few smiles, but not a word 
was said more. 

Though the subject of negro ability was dropped by 
my fellow-boarders after this call for more cases of the 



268 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

same sort, yet the subject occasionally came up in some 
other form, still always connected with mistaken views 
of anti-slavery aims and intentions, especially as they 
related to the United States Government in case Fre- 
mont was elected President. 

In their views they entertained the wildest notions. 
I made it a rule to pointedly answer every unjust attack. 
At length, on one occasion, a lady remarked, " I move 
that we have no more political discussions at the table." 
I replied, " I second the motion, with this amendment, 
that the ladies hold the gentlemen in restraint as to their 
attacks on Northern men. As long as these husbands thus 
make a dinner war upon Northern politicians, I shall be 
in duty bound to come to the rescue. I now call upon 
every one present to bear me witness that I have not 
once begun these discussions. My remarks will ever be 
of the character they have ever been, a defence of the 
absent." After this their attacks were less frequent, though 
by no means entirely abandoned. 

On one occasion a boarder, a single man of some 
thirty-five, made an attack upon Henry Wilson, our pres- 
ent Vice-President. In reply, I said, " Sir, you have 
been misinformed ; that statement is not correct ; Henry 
Wilson has ever been an advocate for freedom." He 
said but little, and was evidently disturbed. Soon retir- 
ing to his room he sent me a line, asking my presence 
there for explanations. I immediately went. He said I 
accused him of falsehood. I replied, " No, I only said 
you had been misinformed ; not that you were false, but 
mistaken through the mistake or falsehood of another." 



Home, School and Church. 269 

He said, " It is the same thing; I am not mistaken, and 
if you repeat those words I will cut your d — d head off." 
I replied, "No, ^lr. Sloan, you will do no such thing; 
you have quite too low an opinion of yourself; you will 
not cut off my head; you are a better man than you 
think yourself. I assure you, however, you will not drive 
me from my position. I am not angry ; I do not fear 
you ; nor can you stop my speaking to you plainly, what 
I know to be true. You were mistaken ; the statement 
which you made relative to Senator Wilson is not true ; 
but I do not charge you with the lie." He continued 
talking angrily and loudly for some minutes, startling my 
wife and most of the ladies within hearing, but wisely 
deferred the cutting operation for^the present. 

The same season, as I was sitting in our office, a negro 
entered, handing to me a subscription paper to raise a 
small sum of money to secure his freedom. I asked, 
" What is your condition now ? " He answered, " I 
three-quarters free and one-quarter slave. You see my 
ole massa have only me, a slave, an' he have four chil- 
dren, so when he die each one heir a quarter. Now, 
three of them give me their quarters, so you see I three- 
quarters free. The other, he hold on ; so I agree to give 
him three hun'red dollars for his quarter. I paid him 
two, and now he say he won't let me go if I give him 
the other hun'red. Mr. Plant (I Mr. Plant's engineer) 
tell me go round 'mong friends of freedom, and get the 
money and tender it to him, and then he will stand be- 
tween me and him." I gave him what he wished, and 
inquired, "What do you think of this matter? — would 



270 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

your people be better off if they were free ? " " Wall," 
said he, " I'll tell you about our folks : a great many of 
'em would work steady, and save their money, and buy 
'em homes, and do nicely; but a good many of 'em are 
better off to have masters ; " then steadily looking me 
in the eye, with lips partly opened, as if he had some- 
thing more to say, but not quite satisfied it was best to 
say it, he contiued, " and — and — I think there is a good 
many white folks who'd be better off to have masters, 
too ! " 

Similar evidences of negro shrewdness were abundant 
during and after the war. Among these was the follow- 
ing : It was the pleasing occupation of one from Ten- 
nessee, while on guard at some post on the Upper Mis- 
sissippi, to have among other prisoners under his care his 
old master. At the close of the war the post was relin- 
quished, and the prisoners were about to be sent home 
on parole. The master went to his former slave, saying, 
" Tom, I haven't got the first red." Tom looked a min- 
ute at his master, as if in thought, then putting his hand 
in his pocket he took out a five, and, handing it to his 
master, said, " There, take that and go home, and 'bey 
the laws ! " I came down nearly one hundred miles on 
the same boat with this colored regiment, and was intro- 
duced to that negro by the clerk, from whom I first had 
the facts. We arrived at St. Louis on Sunday afternoon 
while Sunday morning presented an interesting scene' 
Three-fourths of that whole regiment were studying the 
Bible in all conditions of progress — some learning their 
letters, some spelling out the words, and some reading, 



Home, School and Church. 271 

aided by teachers, mostly from among themselves. I 
have been with Union regiments, and Secesh regiments, 
up and down the river, but never with one of any char- 
acter or color so quiet and orderly as this. 

In two years my eyes had become much more strong, 
and having formed the acquaintance, through the varied 
life-relations, with men of different religious faith, I had, 
during the last year, supplied the pulpits of seven or 
eight different denominations; had also, from time to 
time, preached at the " Jail," at the " Blind Asylum," at 
the " Indigent Ladies' Home," and at the " Boatmen's 
Church." I had, indeed, become, in the language of a 
brother, a circulating medium among all denominations. 

In 1858 there was the commencement of a deep, 
awakened interest; Christians were aroused to active 
duty, and measures were adopted to bring the power of 
truth to bear upon all portions of the city. A committee 
of six was chosen in April, for suggesting plans and de- 
vising means for bringing the masses of our city more 
directly under the influence of Christian truth. This 
duty was attended to, and a report presented by the 
Secretary, the author of this work, from which are copied 
the following extracts : " Large numbers are in our midst, 
almost under the droppings of the sanctuary, and yet 
strangers to the house of God, cut off by their habits and 
associations almost entirely from the benefit of religious 
influence. With this class the Sabbath is a day of dissi- 
pation and vice. Intemperance reels haggard and bloated 
through our streets ; blasphemy and profanity meet us at 
every turn ; dens of pollution and vice diffuse their pesti- 



272 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

lential breath around us, and hurry immortal souls fast 
onward to the gates of death. In this state of moral 
degradation the dying and the dead speak out; they call 
upon the lovers of Christ to give themselves for the 
work." The preamble was accompanied by four reso- 
lutions as to Christian action, and two resolutions as to a 
future meeting and organization for action in secur- 
ing the great results anticipated. This report was ac- 
cepted and adopted May 14, 1858. 

At the meeting in May some twenty-five churches and 
about half as many denominations were present. The 
greatest harmony prevailed. Five of as many Christian 
orders were placed by unanimous vote on the committee, 
and the author of this work again elected Secretary. 

Though a blessing attended the labors and efforts, yet 
the results hoped for and expected were not fully real- 
ized. A daily union prayer meeting was continued with 
good success about four months ; the city was divided 
and visited by earnest Christian laborers ; weekly prayer 
meetings established in several localities; many were 
quickened and many consecrated to God, but still it was 
not as great and effective in its results as had been an- 
ticipated. The ministry depended too much upon the 
action of the membership, saying "go" rather than 
"come." 

On my return trip from Omaha, during November of 
the present year, the weather became excessively cold, 
and our boat, at Liberty Landing, sixteen miles below 
Kansas City, was completely frozen in. The same con- 
dition extended the whole river's length, though unusu- 



Home, School and Church. 273 

ally early for the closing up of winter. From seventy 
to eighty boats were shut in by the ice, having probably 
six or seven thousand passengers and hands, who were 
dismissed and set on shore. I was now in a peculiarly 
unfavorable situation. I had some two thousand dollars 
of our own money, collections which I had made ; and, 
added to this, a friend of mine, a collector for several 
large firms, who for some cause was detained at Leaven- 
worth, placed in my hands a very large sum, how much 
I know not. - There was one package of gold, weighing 
twenty-three and a half pounds (this package alone was 
six thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight dollars), sev- 
eral smaller packages of the same kind, with much paper 
money, and all in a small canvas bag or sack. 

As I was going directly to St. Louis, and could deliver 
the sack to the clerk for deposit in the boat's safe, it 
would be but little trouble, and I consented, in order to 
oblige my friend, to take it on. Affairs were now en- 
tirely changed. I must take all the money from the 
boat's safe for an overland journey of four hundred miles. 
Well, there was no shunning the responsibility, and I 
put the little canvas sack into my own carpet sack, and, 
tumbling it into the wagon which conveyed the personal 
baggage of some seventy or eighty, walked on with many 
others to the town of Liberty, about four miles. Some 
exhibition had brought together at Liberty many people, 
and a crowd was standing by, attracted by curiosity, as 
preparatory for our departure, we gathered our "plunder," 
" truck," " baggage." Some thirty of us had engaged all 

the coaches of the place, to take us some two days' ride 
18 



274 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

to a point opposite Lexington. I stepped upon one of the 
coaches with the driver, asking a colored waiter to hand 
up to me my carpet sack. He took hold of it, giving it 
about an ordinary lift, but it did not move. (It weighed 
seventy pounds.) He seized it with both hands, lifted it 
to me on the coach, and, with eyes glaring and wild with 
astonishment, exclaimed in a tone loud enough to be 
heard eighty rods, " Massa's got a heap of money ! " I 
felt somewhat unwilling that the fact should be made 
quite so public, as we found the river road traveled by 
more than five thousand persons, occupying all sorts of 
carriages, hundreds on horseback, and as many on foot. 
More than this, almost every house near the road was 
used for public entertainment from Liberty to Jefferson 
City. 

One night, on our route from Liberty to Lexington, I 
slept in a room occupied by twenty-three / Two beds of 
ordinary size were used by four, and mattresses placed 
side by side, lengthwise of the room, constructed the third 
bed, in which were deposited, in regular order, the bal- 
ance of nineteen. Being sure that ignorance only of the 
contents of my carpet sack could insure my safety, I 
was careful to allow no one to handle it since the negro's 
explosion, as before stated \ and that night, and on other 
occasions, I threw it carelessly upon any collection of 
baggage where circumstances and convenience formed 
the common heap. 

At Lexington I found three men whom I had met in 
the vicinity of Council Bluffs, of whose sobriety and integ- 
rity I felt well assured, and we four agreed, if possible, to 



Home, School and Church. 275 

journey on together. The arrangement was to hire a 
carriage and take as many as it would accommodate be- 
sides ourselves, who would abstain entirely from intoxi- 
cating liquors, and stand by each other in our downward 
trip. I then informed my friends of the contents of my 
carpet sack, and they cheerfully agreed to help me keep 
the secret. On the next day we engaged a large wagon, 
with four horses, which had come from the east to Lex- 
ington, loaded with mail matter, to take us to Boonville. 
Our number now was eight; all was happily arranged, 
and we started on. 

Our progress was slow. The traveling was exceed- 
ingly bad ; now the mud, one or two feet in depth, frozen 
in holes and tracks so as to be nearly impassable, and 
now and then thawed and breaking through at every 
step, insomuch that from seventeen to twenty-eight miles 
were the extremes of our daily travel from Lexington to 
Jefferson City. Our driver, a faithful young man of 
twenty, gave us the assurance that at Boonville he would 
take us on in good and comfortable carriages ; but within 
three days we met every carriage belonging to his stable 
going west. Our company were all true men; not a 
profane word did I hear during the trip of more than 
twelve days. I am sure that not a drop of intoxicating 
liquor was tasted, and in safety we arrived at our point 
of destination. 

Arriving at Boonville, I with another was appointed 
to call on the stable-keeper and engage the team to Jef- 
ferson City. We inquired if the team could go, and the 
price to take us to the railroad. Said the owner, " Six 



276 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

men were in this morning and offered me sixty dollars 
for that team and driver to take them to Jefferson City, 
but John tells me he has been treated with great kind- 
ness by you all — in fact, that he was never with such a 
company before. I shall let him take the same company 
to the railroad for forty dollars." We thanked him, fully 
assured that sobriety and kindness in some degree finds 
its reward here. 

On the second day after leaving we stopped over night 
With a wealthy farmer, a thorough gentleman in his man- 
ners and bearing to strangers, to his family, and to his 
slaves, of which he had quite a number. Our necessity 
was the cause of his receiving us. Method, courtesy and 
energy seemed to be the order of his establishment. One 
slave of his, especially attracted my attention. She was 
a house servant, and waited with others upon our table. 
She was about the ordinary stature, and very healthy in 
appearance ; not the least preternatural whiteness of the 
skin and hair of the albino, but exactly what we see in 
a few persons among the whites — thorough fire-red hair, 
the clear, blue eye, and the healthy, white, but very 
freckled skin. The features were the full-blood African, 
her nose broad and flat, her lips thick, her hair curled 
and frizzled — in fact, I have never seen a real African 
more marked ; the whole appearance, except the color, 
thoroughly negro ! I did not ascertain her lineage. It 
was probably mixed, the Anglo-Dane or Saxon giving 
the color of the hair and skin, the African the form of the 
features and frizzle of hair, and each race, except in these 
points, entire and uncrossed. In due time we reached 



Home, School and Church. 277 

our destination, and one day on the cars brought us home 
to St. Louis, wearied, fatigued, yet not wishing to blot out 
the last fortnight from our remembrance, though having 
no wish to repeat the journey again. 

My increased acquaintance with business led me to 
reflect upon the duties which love to God and man bids 
us perform in our moral relations, encouragements and 
advice to those in our employ. Most business men believe 
if they set examples of common honesty, require the cor- 
rect fulfillment of what a laborer is expected to perform, 
and pay the stipulated wages, they stand fully acquitted, 
justified even, before God. They go to church, they 
attend the prayer meeting, they talk about loving our 
neighbors as ourselves, entirely unconscious of that neg- 
lect which has, perhaps, sent their own hired man to the 
gambling house or the whisky shop. A few instances of 
attention in this direction will illustrate my meaning, and 
place the duty of which I speak in its true light. In the 
second year of my St. Louis life, we had a large business, 
and employed some eight or ten hands in putting up and 
finishing the articles as they came from the manufactory. 
Among these, I hired a young man from the East, a Penn- 
sylvania Dutchman, an excellent workman, at fourteen 
dollars per week. On a month or six weeks' acquaintance 
I said, " Jacob, you have large wages ; I presume you 
lay aside quite a handsome sum." He replied, " No ; I 
pay my board and other expenses, but I have been here 
a year and have saved nothing." The facts as I then 
learned were : He had worked steadily for a year for 
fair wages ; he paid four dollars and a half for board and 



278 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

washing; drank usually three glasses of whisky per day; 
had only working clothing, yet had not a dollar ahead. 
I spoke to him of the importance, in various respects, of 
prudent saving, and suggested that he expend nine dol- 
lars weekly, leaving five with me. He agreed to try it, 
but at the end of two weeks said he must have the ten 
dollars to pay up. I paid him, urging a second trial. 
He consented, went on three weeks more with the same 
results. I again paid him the fifteen, saying, "Jacob, 
there is a leak somewhere." " Yes," he replied, " it is 
this : I play cards a little sometimes. Last night, after 
I had gone to bed, they came, four or five of them, and 
got me up, and we played for the liquor, and for oyster 
suppers, and they finally got the whole bill on me. I 
can't do anything while I board at that place." It was 
a boarding-house with a saloon connected. I immedi- 
ately, with his consent, engaged his board with a good 
family, at the same price, and, following my advice, he 
entirely gave up drinking and gambling ! I encouraged 
him in adopting such measures as should enable him to 
find his associates in a different circle ; and, at my sug- 
gestion, he took a seat at Dr. Post's church, where he 
from that time became a steady attendant, though his 
proclivities previous had all been Catholic. He remained 
in our employ until July of the next year, about eight 
months of reformed life ; and when he left St. Louis for 
his father's, near Pittsburg, he had two excellent suits, 
besides a good supply of .working wear, was entirely out 
of debt, had a watch, for which he paid thirty-five dol- 
lars, and fifty-seven dollars in money. He wrote me, 



Home, School and Church. 279 

after he had been home a month, that his visit had not 
been pleasant. His father was angry because he would 
not play cards, and his mother, because he visited the 
girl in whom he had informed me he was somewhat 
interested. 

In the autumn following he came back and went into 
business (house-building) for himself, in St. Louis, in 
which he continued, though not very successfully, until 
the next spring. In the spring of the following year, our. 
company established a branch of their business at Evans- 
ville, Indiana, and I proposed to Jacob to take charge of 
the shop. In speaking of the price he said, " Fix your 
own ; I always worked for you for less wages than for 
others, and I always have more at the settlement than 
from any one else !* He entered upon his duties and 
executed the work to our entire satisfaction. More than 
this, he consecrated himself to God, and the second year 
of life in Evansville married a worthy American girl, who 
made his dwelling a home of peace and love. He wrote 
me thus, after fitting up and entering into his house: 
"Now you will not go to a hotel when you come here ; 
my home will ever be your home." So it was. But God 
in his providence, the year following, called him to the 
better world. He died of a fever. 

Another case of encouragement. A young man in the 
year i860 called, inquiring for work. I told him I had 
none for him. He uttered some word of dejection, and 
I learned he was from Lowell, Mass., was born of Irish 
parents, and was seeking his fortune not very success- 
fully in the West. For several days he sought work, but 



280 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

found none. I asked him if he was a Catholic, and he 
informed me he was. I then said, " There are many 
Catholics in this city ; I will give you a line of introduc- 
tion to the Catholic priest, a few streets above us, and 
perhaps he may in some way aid you." He thanked me, 
and, taking the line which I had offered him, went his 
way. In a few hours he returned, saying the priest read 
my note and said, " I can do nothing for you." " Well," 
I replied, " do not be discouraged ; you have enough to 
support you, with prudence, three or four days ; diligently 
inquire all over the city for something to do; do any 
kind of work which you can find, if honorable ; be not 
particular as to the price; by your faithful work and 
good conduct make yourself needed and you can get 
paid; spend three days in your*earnest effort to get 
work; if you fail at the end of three days, call here 
again. If I can do you no good I will do you no harm." 
"You have done me good, sir, already," he replied. I 
answered, " I don't know how." " You have asked me 
to take a chair and sit down, and you are the only man 
in St. Louis who has done so." We parted ; at the end 
of three days he came back — had found nothing to do. 
It happened a small job had just come in ; I gave it to 
him ; it was well done. Then came in another, and, 
singular as it may seem, he remained with me until we 
closed up our entire business, some four years after. He, 
too, renounced Catholicism, married an American girl, 
and is, I believe, still living in St. Louis, employed mostly 
as a steamboat joiner, a steady, worthy young man. In 
1861, when the voice of freedom spoke out in opposition 



Home, School and Church. 281 

to Secession and slavery — when the workmen in three 
shops in the vicinity of Carr Street Ferry proposed to 
raise, without compensation, the American Ensign, the 
first " Union Banner" that floated in proud triumph over 
Main street in the banner city of the West, John F. was 
among the first to employ his manly strength in sustain- 
ing the noble objects, American Union and trite freedom / 
I by no means suppose that all young men could be so 
moved into the path of virtue as the examples which I 
have given. My own experience has been sometimes to 
the contrary ; and the tendencies to vice, from whatever 
cause implanted, have so refused control that, in spite 
of the best influences, the subject has gone down to 
destruction ; but very many would be led to permanent 
virtue, if Christian love counselled and heavenly wisdom 
advised. 

During the months of summer I preached in Monti- 
cello, a suburb of St. Louis, the location of that noted 
female seminary, founded by the liberality of Capt. God- 
frey, some four Sabbaths, to fill the vacation of their min- 
ister. This was the residence of Leander Maclean and 
family, having located in this place after a few years of 
successful life in California. The Maclean family were the 
children of a worthy clergyman from Pennsylvania, who, 
removing West for his health, died in middle age, leaving 
his children orphans, to whom this elder brother became 
the worthy counsellor and Christian guide. Some of the 
children within a few years had died, two sisters were in 
California, the youngest sister, a young lady of about 
twenty, was an inmate of her brother's family, was a 



282 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone, 

graduate of " Monticello Seminary," possessed a fine, 
genial mind, though not religiously disposed. She was a 
regular semi-monthly correspondent with a sister west of 
the mountains, on the following plan : Before writing 
each would read a hymn of their Church Psalmody, each 
would read a chapter from the New Testament, and each 
would commit to memory one verse of that chapter, with 
the thoughts suggested thereby. This course had been 
observed for months. Abbie Maclean, the sister at 
Monticello, had, the week before I preached there, 
strictly followed out this plan. I arose in the pulpit, a 
stranger to the whole audiefice, commenced the service, 
reading the same hymn which the young lady before me 
had read previous to writing the letter to her far-off sis- 
ter ! I read from the Scriptures ; it was the same chap- 
ter that she had read and noted before writing to her 
sister! She was alive with astonishment. I announced 
my text; it was the very identical verse which she had 
committed to memory ! The event was to her the voice 
of God. She was aroused; more than this, she was wisely 
excited. A friend at St. Louis informed me of something 
of the interest. I agreed to call at Mr. Maclean's after 
the morning service on the following Sunday. Abbie's 
anxiety could not rest; she called upon me at eight o'clock 
on Sunday morning, and related to me the facts as I 
have stated. Wisely and faithfully she consecrated her- 
self to God, ever regarding me in all her confidential 
advisements as a father,, both temporal and spiritual. 
Some two months after this, I was invited to Monticello 
to preach at a season of communion. The pastor was 



Home, School and Church. 283 

present, and on that day Miss Maclean and a young 
lady friend became the professed disciples of their divine 
Savior. Two years after, Miss Maclean returned to Cali- 
fornia, taught school there a year and a half, and in 
April, 1865, was married to a worthy man, an officer in 
the Presbyterian Church. She had bright prospects for 
the future here, but she was wanted " Over the river." 
Just one month from the day of her marriage, God called 
her home. ." We know that if our earthly house of this 
tabernacle were dissolved, we have a building of God, a 
house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. '» 
We, who knew her best, are sure that she now inhabits 
that house. Her dear brother, with whom she lived 
when I first became acquainted with the family, was, six 
years after, called to the same blessed home, leaving for 
a season a wise, a faithful and a loving wife to counsel 
and guide four dear children, the eldest but just reaching 
maturity. He left these dear ones with an unclouded 
hope. By his request, while dying, some verses were 
sung of that beautiful hymn — 

"O sing to me of heaven, 
When I am called to die." 

One verse is — 

"Then to my raptured ears 

Let one sweet song be given, 

Let music charm me last on earth, 

And greet me first in heaven." 

In the July of 1859, on one of our river steamers, I 
left St. Louis, late in the evening, for Evansville, expect- 
ing, if nothing unusual transpired, to extend my trip up 



284 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Green River and nearly across the State of Kentucky to 
Mammoth Cave, amid those wonderful freaks of nature, 
as she scooped out for more than ninety miles those 
dark and winding pathways within the vast depth of 
earth's bosom ! All on board — the dim outlines of our 
city were lost in the distance, hastened by the twilight 
shadows, which were fast fading in quiet gentleness the 
objects on either shore. Soon the bright face of the full 
moon shows its mild, tranquil form above the forest trees 
of the "American Bottom " on the eastern shore, bidding 
the darker forms of night's shadow-draped daughters 
retire from the river, and its moon-lit banks to regions 
more sequestered and drear. She, the bright goddess of 
the night, will watch over our boat and gild the river in 
beauty and brightness. 

Splash ! splash ! on our starboard quarter. In a mo- 
ment a form glides by us, a head just above water dis- 
closes the appalling fact, " A man is overboard ! a man 
is overboard ! " reverberates from " stem to stern." Yes, 
the deck-hands were adjusting some freight near the 
" bow," a young man, slipping, lost his hold and fell into 
the river. The boat was quickly put about, the yawl 
lowered and manned, shout after shout called to the 
lost, but all in vain ; no answer told his whereabouts, or 
directed the wandering rowers to their lost shipmate. 
All was silent and still, save the gentle moving of our 
wheels, the occasional steam-puff, or the less marked dip 
of the oarsmen as they continued to skim the extended 
surface in the shimmer of the broad moonlight. An hour 
was spent in vain endeavor, when our captain called in 



Home, School and Church. 285 

the rowers, the boat was again put upon her course, 
leaving one of our number the tenant of a watery 
grave. 

The morning of the 18th, my birthday, found me at 
Evansville. Then, after a few days of business review, 
I took the stern-wheeler called the " Greenville," and, 
leaving the Ohio, we struck into that beautiful little 
stream, running down through the centre of Kentucky, 
called Green River. Few rivers can boast of a gentle, 
placid beauty like this; winding its serpentine course 
through the rolling land of northern Kentucky, it finds 
its deep channel, about six rods wide, embowered in the 
thickest, dark green foliage. This forest of shrubbery 
with its embankments sloping to the very water's edge, 
seems looking down, down into the sea-green depths, 
bending over its placid, mirrored surface, until it seems 
to kiss, as if in sweet sympathy, the lovely, quiet waters. 
So quiet is this beautiful river — so gracefully winding in 
its serpentine course — so regularly sloping are the banks 
on either side — so thickly embowered in grand forest 
foliage, gently growing less and less, until it fringes the 
water's edge with the hazel and the willow — so nar- 
row, and yet so deep, that, as our boat glided along in 
the quiet stillness, it seemed more like a large ship canal, 
which art had scooped out and wealth had beautified, 
than a natural water-course delineated by the finger of 
God. Our boat in taking freight spent some time in 
another direction, affording the passengers a few days in 
quiet repose in " South Carrollton," a village in Muhlen- 
burg county, located on the bluff, and about one hundred 



286 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and fifty feet above the water, on the west side of the 
river. In religious matters the population of Carrollton 
were unis frairibus, divided into several orders, while 
they had but one church, an unpretending edifice, without 
cushions or paint ; and yet it can boast what many showy 
churches cannot, when there is a preacher of any evan- 
gelical order it is always full. There was a religious 
meeting in progress during a portion of our visit, and, by 
the invitation of the clergymen assembled, I preached 
twice. On the last day of our stay, by the kindness of 
W. F. Fink, the County Marshal of Muhlenburg county, 
we visited, what was to most of us a curiosity, a cypress 
swamp, some twenty miles in length, and two in breadth. 
It was, indeed, all that its name implies, and brought 
forcibly to my mind De Soto's journey from Florida to the 
" Father of Waters," and the retreat of Dred, Mrs. Stowe's 
hero of the " Dismal Swamp." 

The next day, bidding adieu to the kind and genial 
people of Carrollton, we made our way to Bowling Green, 
about twenty-five miles from the northern line of Ten- 
nessee, and thence easterly, about the same distance, we 
are upon that world renowned region of Kentucky, which, 
elevated two or three hundred feet above Green River, 
spreads out in rolling and barren woodland over those 
vast subterranean thoroughfares which underlie the sur- 
face called Mammoth Cave. We here spent two days 
in our explorations, aided by faithful guides and atten- 
tive servants. On the first day we explored the short 
route of three and a half miles. The delineations of 
these scenes, and a graphic description of these subter- 



Home, School and Church. 287 

ranean regions, would swell the pages of my little volume 
beyond the patience of my readers. The very names 
alone, by which these world-deep objects are baptized, 
such as " Gorki's Dome," " Ball Room," " Gothic Gal- 
lery," "Wooden Bowl," "Standing Rock," "Snowball 
Grot," " Maelstrom," " Flora's Garden," " Last Rose of 
Summer," "Star Chamber," "Bottomless Pit," and almost 
innumerable others, equally significant during the whole 
of both routes in and out, twenty-five miles, meet the 
explorer at almost every step. I copy a description of 
the last-named : " A few feet to our left, and in two 
minutes we are standing upon the open jaws and peering 
down into the long, dark, narrow mouth of the ' Bottom- 
less Pit.' Darkness is settled upon the ledge on which you 
stand, and all your surroundings. Your pathway, shelv- 
ing toward the pit, is less than three feet wide ; you feel 
an involuntary shudder, an unconscious shrinking away 
from the yawning abyss. A slender iron. railing has been 
put upon its edge, and protected by this you draw near 
the brink. A Bengal light is dropped down fifty feet or 
more, it adheres to the side, burning and sparkling in its 
bright radiance. You look down, you listen, and fancy 
you almost hear the demon of darkness as he fires the 
glittering beams and sweeps his wing in the unapproach- 
able gloom below." 

The second day took us over the long route. Viewing 
what was around us, sailing half a mile on Echo River, 
hearing the explanations as we passed from object to ob- 
ject, we at length reached the end. We now commenced 
to retrace our steps — yes, we are obliged " to retrace " — 



288 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

go back over the same ground. No ivory gate opens 
into the realms of living, breathing life, through which 
subterranean spirits send up false dreams to the upper 
world. No, we remembered the words of the Mantuan 
Bard, and almost looked, in our weariness, for some short 
exit from these Tartarean realms. I said, " in our weari- 
ness ; " it is true. The excitement over, and nine miles 
seemed in the prospect quite as long — yes, rather longer 
than the same distance appears above ground. It was 
in due time accomplished. Trees, leaves, flowers, bees, 
butterflies, birds, insects, all seemed redolent with life; 
we wondered we had never noticed this living activity 
before. And, then, how very strange is the impurity of 
the woodland air. Faugh ! how nauseous the world 
smells ! We had been for twelve hours in the scentless 
air of the cave, and now the odor of the woodland is 
almost unendurable. A short time and bur olfactories 
got upon the accustomed track, and we were the living 
objects of a living world. 

On my return from the cave I received the intelligence 
that our manufactory in the State of New York was 
burned, and that, too, without any valuable insurance. 
This led to a dissolution of the copartnership, a settling 
up of matters in due time, when the balance of unfin- 
ished stuff at St. Louis and Evansville came into my 
hands. During the succeeding six months, while my 
wife was visiting our children and friends in the East, I, 
while journeying to the same point, visited the city of 
Washington and its surroundings. My route was through 
Cincinnati, Columbus and Wheeling to Fairmount, where 



Home, School and Church. 289 

West Fork and Tiger Valley rivers, confluent, form the 
Monongahela. Up beside the last-named river to Graf- 
ton we gained the summit of the Alleghanies, and passed 
through Kingwood Tunnel, four thousand one hundred 
feet, or more than four-fifths of a mile in length. Look 
out for a moment ; take an observation of things around 
you. The cars are running at railroad speed, in a rock-cut 
crevice, seemingly but just wide enough to lay one track. 
Cheat river is on our left, away down, down, down almost 
out of sight in the deep, dark, narrow valley, while the 
mountain summits, on which the clouds seem to rest, are 
almost overhanging you in their wild grandeur on the 
opposite side. Now we reach a gorge between two 
mountain spurs, which seem to bar all access and com- 
pletely close up our way. But, look, the cars have slack- 
ened their speed; see, there is a narrow line which appears 
to connect the two. Yes, that which seems in the dis- 
tance to be only a line is solid stone masonry, one hundred 
and thirteen feet high, surmounted by iron trestle work 
seventy-five feet more, making from the bottom of the 
gorge to our track one hundred and eighty-eight feet per- 
pendicular height ! Over this seeming line our train will 
safely go, skimming as it were between the gorge's bot- 
tom on our left, through which runs Cheat River, and 
the clbud-region on our right, pierced by the summits of 
the very mountains around whose sides we are now so 
rapidly whirling along ! Stopping over night at Cumber- 
land, I had a fine view of the interesting, wild, beautiful 
scenery of the upper Potomac. 

As we were leaving the cranberry glade on the Alle- 
J 9 



290 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

ghanies, a conversation occurred between a man descend- 
ing life's western slope, named " Brady," well-known in 
Western Virginia as a speculator in negroes — in other 
words, a nigger-trader, and a man who lives on the 
eastern side of the mountains, known as Col. Fraser. 
The first words that attracted my attention was, " Well, 
he was not half so insane as Governor Wise." It was 
uttered in a tone of earnest raillery, and as we were mov- 
ing toward " Harper's Ferry " it interested many who 
gathered around the speakers. Fraser continued, using 
some profane language, " It is true, he has acted no more 
like a fool than Governor Wise ; it is a fuss — a humbug." 
Another voice here inquired, " What is the fuss ? What is 
the humbug ? Please explain." " Well, the fuss is, John 
Brown, with twenty-one men, took Virginia ! The hum- 
bug is, that Governor Wise should call out and send to 
Charleston so many hundred troops. What was it for ? 
What was the fool afraid off? Brown was in jail with 
almost all his men who were not killed." "But," said the 
negro-trader, " there may have been thousands of mus- 
kets in these hills." " Well," replied Fraser, " they will 
hurt nobody till used. Can't the men who use them be 
seen ? " " But the North may send an army on to rescue 
them." "An army! The North send an army! John 
Brown had been operating for years at the Nortn, and 
had raised during that time twenty-one men / This looks 
like an army coming from the North. I tell you it's the 
greatest piece of folly I ever heard of, t is Governor Wise's 
movement." The negro : trader remarked, " It is a pity 
they had not hung him right up with a drum-head jury, 



Home, School and Church. 291 

as old Jackson did." To this lynching operation all 
seemed to acquiesce, Fraser giving his full and hearty- 
assent. I then said, " Really, sir, do you believe that ? 
Would you set aside law, and encourage a mob, when 
you have all the means to give the public and the 
offender a fair trial ? " Fraser hesitated. I continued, 
" Would you have the reputation of old Virginia tar- 
nished by saying to her sister States, and to the world, 
that she has laws to punish crime, but she cannot execute 
them ? " Fraser replied, " No, I would not ; I take back 
what I said ; it is better to stand by the law and let it 
take its course than to resort to mobs." Fraser again 
repeated his disgust at the course of Governor Wise. 
"An insane old fool had got some arms, and twenty-one 
men professedly to overthrow slavery; these had mostly 
been killed or captured; then the State must be put under 
marshal law, troops must be called out under a pretense 
of fear from the North, but really to get up a panic among 
fools, and create a Southern party with violent feelings 
toward the North ; that's the humbug." Here the con- 
versation closed. 

One o'clock p. m. brought our train to Harper's Ferry, 
where we spent nearly an hour in noting the objects con- 
nected with the disaster, went to the armories and engine 
house, saw the spot where the mayor of the city was 
shot, and heard from eye-witnesses the facts and un- 
daunted conduct of the brave girl, who, after his body 
had lain in the street, on the spot where it fell, for two 
hours or more, triumphantly bore off his remains. In 
the tragical events of Harper's Ferry we see the wisdom 



292 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

and power of God, in causing the alarming folly of one, 
and the daring, overstrained rashness of another, to con- 
duce to the advancement of the great cause of true free- 
dom and the establishment of human rights. At six 
o'clock p. m. I arrived at Washington City. 

On Saturday morning July 21, i860, a day which 
would have done honor to April's best in New England, 
in company with a friend and pupil of thirty bygone 
years, I sought the lions of the city. Among the first is 
" Washington's Monument," projected six hundred feet 
in height, on a base of fifty feet. It has yet arisen but 
one hundred and seventy-four feet, as the " monument 
purse " has long since been exhausted. Among the blocks 
of building material, now waiting in the basement ground 
to be worked into the Monument, are : A block of lava 
from Mt. Vesuvius. A slab of white marble, curiously 
wrought, from the Sultan of Turkey. A block of blue 
slate from the citizens — Germany. A block of Warren 
Granite from Rhode Island. A block from the temple 
of ^Esculapius, on the Isle of Paros. These are all hewn 
and inscribed by the donors. 

From the Monument I visited the " Smithsonian Insti- 
tute." And here time would fail me if I attempted to 
describe the vast display of nature and art which are 
gathered. And yet these are only a beginning of that 
vast embodiment of literature and science, alike credit- 
able to the conception of the donor and the executors of 
a nation, grand both in conception and execution. A 
word, before I pass, of the picture gallery, which is prob- 
ably the finest delineation of " Indian " facial character 



Home, School and Church. 293 

to be found in the world. It is the work of more than 
ten years by Stanley, a most eminent artist, who spent 
those years among the Indians of the West, studying their 
characters and copying their faces. 

From the " Smithsonian Institute," at three p. m., I stood 
before that grand pile of buildings containing the halls of 
Congress, standing in the centre of some forty or fifty acres, 
and shaded with sycamores, elms, poplars and maples, 
of some sixty years' growth. The buildings are grandly 
elevated, are approached by broad steps and proud walks, 
the whole, in its varied combinations, worthy of the nation 
ot which it is the Legislative Capitol. One and a half 
miles from the Capitol stands the White House, for which 
there is so much political scrambling. The house is, in 
itself, neither beautiful nor attractive, being destitute of 
architectural proportions, and only two stories high. It 
fronts the North, and has Lafayette Park directly before 
it. Near the centre of this park is the famous equestrian 
statue of Jackson. It stands on a marble block, some 
ten feet high, the horse rampant, the rider at perfect ease, 
and is, altogether, a noble specimen of art, conveying to 
the beholder the combined idea of strength, beauty, cour- 
age, and that self-reliant power which could say, " I take 
the responsibility." In the same neighborhood are the 
War and Treasury Departments, the latter fronting on 
the same street (Pennsylvania avenue) with the White 
House. Sabbath morn has again opened upon us, not 
in the circle so long cherished and endeared, but still 
among friends and old acquaintances — among those in 
whom I am deeply interested — in a family whose united 



294 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

head were educated by me in my earlier days, and whose 
parents were among my early and most cherished friends. 
We heard a good sermon from Rev. Dr. Comins in the 
morning, and listened to an earnest, solemn appeal from 
Rev. Mr. Kennard, Baptist, in the evening. On the 24th 
I visited Mount Vernon and the tomb of Washington, 
containing a large number of interesting historical remin- 
iscences ; then the old manse, then the garden and the 
negro quarters. There are also many articles of furniture 
used by Washington and family, some old engravings, 
one of the Bastile, with which every reader is familiar, 
and over it hung the identical key which closed those 
doors of rayless hope upon many an innocent and true 
heart. There, too, is the " Old Tomb," which for so many 
years gave a resting place to the remains of the dead, 
and twenty-five rods west is the " New Tomb," where 
now stands the two marble coffins in which rest the ashes of 
the world's hero and his lovely wife. At two o'clock p. m. 
we bade farewell to these interesting scenes, hoping soon 
the hand of taste and cultivation, under the direction of 
the fair daughters of America, will change the aspect of 
this hallowed spot; and while they preserve every relic 
of the hero-President and his amiable wife, they will give 
the place an air of beauty and care, which shall gladden, 
instead of sadden, the heart of every patriot visitor. On 
the same evening I attended the President's levee at the 
White House. The elite of the city were there. The 
President, a dignified old man of seventy, took the hand 
of each visitor as they passed from the dining-room to 
the large reception-room, scarce thirty feet in width, ex- 



Home, School and Church. 295 

tending entirely across the east end of the house. Being 
much fatigued with my journey to Mount Vernon, eight 
miles by railroad and nine miles by coach, I left early for 
the rest and quiet of a friendly home. 

The next day was mostly occupied in the Postoffice 
and Patent Office buildings, and especially the latter, 
containing much, exciting curiosity, and awakening deep 
interest. Among other articles were the following : Au- 
tograph of George IV, England, 18 14. Frederick Wil- 
liam of Prussia. Louis Philippe; large hand. Napoleon 
Bonaparte, when Consul in 1803 ; small, scrambling hand, 
very much elevated at its ending. Louis XVI; large 
hand, but not heavy. Francis I of Austria ; small hand. 
Alexander of Russia ; large, with much flourish. Ferdi- 
nand of Spain ; small hand. 

CURIOSITIES. 

Coat, vest and small clothes, worn by Washington 
when he resigned his commission ; coat, blue, buff trim- 
mings, with gilt buttons; vest with skirts, and small 
clothes, buff. Sword of Washington; old and worn. 
Washington's writing case and camp chest. Gun pre- 
sented to Jefferson by Emperor of Morocco; very ornate. 
Jackson's coat, worn at the battle of New Orleans ; blue 
tinsel cord, bell buttons, and straight standing collar. 

In the evening I called on Senator Wilson, and had a 
pleasant chat with him and wife. After this I spent some 
two days longer listening to the debates in the Senate 
Chamber and House of Representatives, and in looking 
at and taking notes of the appearance, dress, and man- 
ners of some forty of the Legislature, from Jeff Davis, and 



296 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Billy Seward of New York, to Tom Corwin, with his 
startling, thundering retorts, and Extra Billy Smith, with 
his suit of homespun gray. 

My journey was now onward through Baltimore, Phila- 
delphia and New York to Providence, where were my 
wife and daughters ; and, before returning, I met at their 
homes a large circle of relatives and friends. In this 
tour I visited in four of the New England States, and in 
more than thirty towns, in most of which I had either 
lectured, or preached, or taught ; in many had both lec- 
tured and preached, and in ten of which I had made my 
home. In these visits I took by the hand scores of those 
whom I had educated in earlier life, and sat in the family 
circles surrounded by the children, where one or both 
parents were my scholars in their girlhood or boyhood 
days. On one occasion, having just arrived in Oxford, 
Mass., where they had just called a new minister, I went 
into a prayer meeting with the old pastor, after the peo- 
ple had mostly assembled. My old friend introduced 
me as a clergyman from the West. The meeting went 
on, I was invited to take a part, did so, and in due time 
the meeting closed. The people then gathered around 
me, almost the whole prayer meeting congregation. 
"Why," said the young clergyman with surprise, the 
people here seem to know you." The old minister, 
smiling, said, " Well they may, for he educated about 
the whole of them; we all know you." 

On the 26th of March, -i860, I, with Mrs. Stone, left 
New England for our permanent home in the West. In 
1856 I had entered into contract for three years with the 



Home, School and Church. 297 

Olean Manufacturing Company, expecting at the close 
of the contract to return East, but my children were now 
mostly in the West. One was in Missouri, in Maries 
county, having immediately removed there on the burn- 
ing of the mills. Another was in St. Louis, her husband 
Principal of the High School in that city. A third was in 
Minneapolis, occupying the same position as his brother- 
in-law before named. Another was in Chicago, in the 
lumber trade. My youngest son, having pursued the 
preparatory college studies at Manchester and Provi- 
dence, had, by my consent, removed West, and was with 
us in St. Louis. And now, my youngest daughter, hav- 
ing been several years a teacher in the Boston Public 
Schools, was, on account of ill health, obliged to relin- 
quish her position, and would accompany her father and 
mother to their home in St. Louis. We took the route 
by the New York Central, Suspension Bridge, Detroit, 
and Michigan Central, stopping at the Niagara Falls, 
where we visited " Goat Island," " Terrapin Tower," and 
the " Horseshoe " and "American Falls," and on the 
29th, at half-past eleven p. m., we arrived at my son's 
home in Chicago. 

The business at St. Louis and Evansville was now en- 
tirely in my hands, and I made arrangements for closing 
out as fast as opportunity offered, and in the meantime, 
in the same warehouse, with a partner, I commenced the 
paper and paper-stock trade. Nothing occurred or 
marked our operation out of the usual line of mercantile 
action, except that I occupied some pulpit almost every 
Sunday, as I had before my long visit to the East. In 



298 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

1859 I supplied the pulpit of the Third Baptist Church 
about six months, until the call and settlement of Rev. 
Mr. Schofield, a brother of the General. And I can 
enumerate at least nineteen churches and places of wor- 
ship where I preached in the city during my sojourn 
there. 

The year previous to the election of Lincoln to the 
Presidential Chair, the shades of political opinion, which 
spread over the country, gave a color to almost every 
conversation, and in some manner tinged the political 
drapery of our whole nation. More than this, the talk, 
the informal chat, the jokes and retorts, the expressed 
views of government, of national prosperity, of moral 
virtue, of political and moral science, all seemed mingled 
with real life, from the nursery to legislative hall. It 
seemed that the spirit of freedom had breathed upon the 
nation, and it rested down upon it in an earnest " life- 
power," from Maine to Texas, from the Atlantic to the 
Pacific. This was not all : This " life-power " of free- 
dom, of justice, brought out its opposite, injustice, and, 
backed up by the sanction of ages, stood firm, even to 
revolt. A threat of determined, of organized revolt from 
our government was uttered, if we dared to place in 
the Presidential Chair the man of our choice. The 
nephew of John Minor Botts assured me of this, as we 
traveled on a Mississippi steamer, in October preceding 
the election ■ and a Texas slaveholder, reared in Ken- 
tucky, as he journeyed with me from Memphis to Cairo 
the same season, after the nomination of Lincoln, took 
the same ground. In each case we held an earnest dis- 



Home, School and Church. 299 

cussion on the wrong, the injustice of slavery* the evils 
resulting to both races, the impossibility of a high moral 
elevation in either class where slavery is accepted as the 
law regulating humanity. I admitted the partial excuse, 
or at least the different views of persons reared in those 
States where this condition forms a main feature of their 
social relations, and mingles with their every-day life. 
The history of this eventful period is fresh in the memory 
of every one. Many stood trembling in view of the future, 
but many rested in full reliance on God. In the early part 
of 1 86 1 the workmen in three shops on Main street, at the 
junction of Carr, proposed to raise, by their joint action, 
the American Flag. The proprietors of these three ware- 
houses, of which the author was one, secured the execu- 
tion and completion of one of the largest flags in .the city, 
with suitable fixtures for elevation; and on the 20th of 
February it floated in proud triumph, the first on Main 
street to give its folds to the gentle breezes of patriotism, 
which, amid some counter-currents, gently breathed their 
life-spirit over the whole West. 

General Lyon was at the Arsenal at St. Louis with only 
twenty United States troops. There was danger, as sev- 
eral movements indicated the intention of a few military 
leaders in Missouri to take possession of the city and all 
important points in its surroundings. In order to secure 
the city and State, Gen. Lyon, in connection with the 
proper authorities, enlisted a few hundred soldiers, styled 
" Home Guards." My youngest son was of the number, 
and continued in connection with the army until the be- 
ginning of winter. He was at the taking of Frost and 



3<x> Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

the first prisoners of war; was in the ranks at the battle 
of Springfield and the death of Lyon ; was appointed 
military instructor at Cape Girardeau ; was sent with a 
detachment on a steamer to Paducah, where they were 
ambushed on the way, and two balls passed through his 
coat. About the time of £is enlistment Gen. Frost, at 
the head of the State troops, marched to St. Louis, pro- 
fessing no intention of molesting the troops at the Ar- 
senal, or the action of the " Home Guards." Actions, 
however, speak louder than words. On the evening of 
May 9th a boat loaded with arms came from below to 
St. Louis, and a few of those arms were taken before 
daylight to Frost's encampment in the western suburbs 
of the city. Gen. Lyon, early on the morning of the 
10th, took possession of the boat and the arms on board 
of her. In the course of the morning he sent a detach- 
ment of troops west of Frost's encampment, planted his 
artillery in a commanding position on the east, and then 
demanded a surrender of his whole force. Frost sur- 
rendered, his men were disarmed, and the troops dis- 
missed on parole. The war was now fairly begun. Its 
history and results are before the world. During the 
summer and autumn I supplied the pulpit of the North 
Presbyterian Church in St. Louis. The war struggle 
continued; Lyon had fallen; the whole nation in its 
differing aspects was arising, and the fearful work of 
national suicide was begun. In September I preached 
on "The Christian Duty in the Present Crisis." The 
sermon was published in the " Missouri Democrat." I 
submit a few extracts : 



Home, School and Church. 301 

" No period of life was ever so momentous as this. 
Christian action now, as heretofore, will write out for the 
perusal of after time, the shame and glory of the Church, 
as she passes through this exciting struggle. It is em- 
phatically a day of judgment into which every man and 
woman enters, and the decision will go down to after 
ages, and meet every actor, at that more solemn tribunal 
which awaits us when we have seen the last of earth. 
There are many, too many,. who have arrayed themselves 
on either side without thought, but Christians especially 
are called to examine their position in the light of truth. 
In the language of the text, 'To take heed what they do.' 
The time has come to examine this subject in respect to 
all its national aspects and issues, independent of our 
own particular interest, the ties of friendship or love, or 
the glittering fabric of military glory. Republican free- 
dom, the nurtured child of heaven, rising into life despite 
the edicts, anathemas, and malignant predictions of trans- 
Atlantic Europe, is now struggling in the grasp of a 
mighty fratricidal war. I fear few of us comprehend its 
magnitude. This struggle is not merely America's — not 
merely connected with the dearest interests of our life — 
but the song of liberty, whose low, thrilling notes have 
been heard among the vine-clad hills of France, have 
murmured within the dark forests, and ice-bound plains 
of Russia — that song of liberty, which has burst forth 
from ten thousand tongues, making the seven hills of 
Rome echo with its life-giving tones, if this rebellion suc- 
ceeds, shall be hushed forever in the silence of death. 
My text is, * Take heed what ye do, for ye judge not for 



302 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

man, but for the Lord.' The subject on which we are to 
judge, is the life or the death of our Republic. You are 
required to decide whether you will be a citizen, loyal or 
disloyal. " In the light of divine truth, looking to heaven 
for aid, you are to take your stand either to sustain or to 
crush the liberties of your country ! I sto p not here to 
expose and refute that idea of resignation and faith in 
God which paralyzes Christian action. There is a kind 
of faith, if it can be called faith, which, gatherin g around 
it the mantle of indolence or cowardice, forms no opinion 
and takes no action, but is continually talking of God's 
doing his will, and of man's submitting to what God does. 
Of such God has said, ' I would thou wert either cold 
or hot, for I will spew the lukewarm out of my mouth.' 
True faith in God demands the exercise of all your God- 
given powers in forming your judgment; under the influ- 
ence of prayer, uttered in the assurance that God will 
direct you aright, believing in, and expecting the results 
for which you are striving, at the same time prepared for 
a different result if God in his providence so orders the 
end. It very often happens that results are entirely 
different from what man expects. When Martin 
Luther took the oath at Wittenburg, administered by 
Andrew Carlstadt, ' I swear to support the Sacred Scrip- 
tures with all my strength,' Luther believed the oath 
would uphold the Church. God knew that that very 
oath would tear up that Church from its rotten founda- 
tions ! So I believe of this struggle in which our nation 
is engaged. The counsels of Heaven are not yet devel- 
oped. God is not leading this nation through this vale 



Home, School and Church. 303 

of blood, through this ruin of commerce, through this 
anguish and suffering, merely to settle the point whether 
slavery shall go into the Territories, protected or unpro- 
tected by constitutional law. By no means. The scourge 
of Almighty God, falling upon our defiant and rebellious 
nation, means more than this. Christian brother, Chris- 
tian sister, accept this rebuke from the Lord your God 
in the exercise of true faith, as in this dread struggle he 
unrolls the panorama whereon are marked the lines 
drawn for you and your country ! Falter not, if the coun- 
sels of Heaven have marked your house for the flames, 
or your substance to feed your enemies. Falter not, 
though you have to escape houseless and homeless to 
save your own life. Falter not, though Heaven demand 
your first-born son, or, perhaps, that last and dearest 
child which has just exchanged the home of comfort for 
the hardships of the camp. Falter not, though these 
dear ones are sacrificed upon the altar of your country's 
freedom. 'Stand up for Jesus,' and never more than in 
this hour of your country's peril. Christian friends, you 
are called by your God to the exercise of firmness, resist- 
ance, and love ; firmness in the hour of conflict ; resist- 
ance it may be unto death ; love even to a brother who 
raises over you the sword of rebellion — to a brother 
whom you are compelled to strike down as an enemy of 
your country ! But beware, lest your resistance and 
firmness become revenge and retaliation. Never did we 
all, so much need the influence on our hearts of earnest, 
faithful, soul-absorbing prayer, to enable us to be men of 
peace, and yet manfully to meet our country's foe." 



304 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

That section of Missouri in which my older son 
resided was much divided in opinion, and led to threats 
against all who took the Union side, and especial bitter- 
ness against all Northern men. Rather unwisely, as I 
thought, the Union authorities established a military post 
at Lane's Prairie, as it was a mark for Secesh vio- 
lence, In one instance they were attacked, and one or 
two killed, but the few at the post bravely maintained 
their position. This was, however, within the year given 
up. My son, who had been an officer, was marked as 
an object for revenge. The mode of operation was, not 
regular soldiers under military command, but banded 
squads, pretending to be soldiers, but really robbers, 
plundering, and sometimes murdering, loyal men. In 
this state of affairs he came to St. Louis, where he 
remained nearly two months. The loyalty of the State 
soon became more strongly developed. Price and many 
of the rebel legislators left the State, became connected 
with the Southern army, a greater condition of safety 
was felt in most portions of Missouri, and my son 
returned. I had, in the early part of 1862, purchased 
one and one-quarter sections of land in Calhoun county, 
Illinois, lying more than a mile on the Mississippi river, 
and near Hamburg, and in June of that year, my son 
moved his residence to that State, where he has since 
resided. Since that time I have been much interested 
in this place, and, as my business at St. Louis was closed 
out in the two following years, I was much of the time 
at Hamburg, engaged in disposing of the wood and 
lumber, of clearing, fencing, and setting fruit trees, as 



Home, School and Church. 305 

I expected it would be the future home of one or more 
of my sons. From the spring of 1864 it was indeed my 
own home until June, 1865, when I left with my wife for 
a year's visit in New England. 

The war had closed, or was closing up, amid tragic 
scenes, which had startled not only America but Europe 
and bedewed with tears every cause of rejoicing, whether 
in the little home circle, or the assembled host, as it 
glanced back over four years of American life. God be 
thanked for the establishment of true American freedom. 

Our route East was to Chicago, and by one steamer, 
the " City of Boston," through the Lakes, the Ship Canal 
and St. Lawrence river to Ogdensburg, N. Y., the whole 
distance nearly one thousand six hundred miles. Stop- 
ping over Sunday at Chicago, I preached in the South 
Congregational Church, from the text, " Simon, Simon, 
behold Satan hath desired to have you, that he may sift 
you as wheat ; " also, " Whose fan is in his hand, and he 
will thoroughly purge his floor." My subject was, " The 
difference between being in the Lord's Fan and the 
Devil's Sieve." When I came from the pulpit, a gentle- 
man, one of the Corporation Officers, took me by the 
hand, saying, " I wish to inform you what my son said 
of your sermon." " How old is your son ? " " Four- 
teen." " I shall be happy to hear." " My son said to 
me, ' Father, that is the first sermon that I ever heard, of 
which I understood the whole.' " It is the greatest com- 
pliment which I ever received. Sermons sometimes go 
over, not only the heads of boys, but of men. The first 
morning after our departure found us at daylight in Mil- 
20 



306 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

waukee. As I was sitting in the cabin, a gentleman came 
on board, and, addressing himself to me, inquired of the 
boat's accommodations and destination. Learning that 
I was going to Ogdensburg, he said, " There are two 
ladies in my care who wish to go East, the one to Ohio, 
the other to New Jersey ; I would like to place them m 
your care, if they will not give you too much trouble. 
The one is Principal, the other Assistant, of the Fond du 
Lac High School; but," said he, looking with much 
earnestness, "isn't this Rev. Mr. Stone?" "It is," I 
answered. " I have seen you at St. Louis," he con- 
tinued ; " I preached there several years." He escorted 
the ladies on board, and introduced them to me and 
Mrs. Stone. This voyage over the lakes was one of the 
most pleasant journeys of my life. Everything was nght. 
The boat was not spacious, but neat and convenient. 
The officers gentlemanly and courteous, the servants kind 
and faithful. The boat was not crowded, but comfortably 
filled with cabin passengers, intelligent, refined, religious, 
social, numbering about twenty-five, besides a sprinkling 
of children. 

Leaving Milwaukee at about half-past two o'clock we 
crossed over to the easterly side, and on Sunday morn- 
ing were at Glen Arbor, on the Michigan shore. At two 
o'clock p. m., Sunday, as we neared the Straits, religious 
services were held, and that evening, at least before light 
we passed out into the broad Huron, and at eight in the 
morning had left Fort Mackinac nearly one hundred 
miles behind us. Next morning, at four o'clock, our 
boat, after a few monster groans, suddenly stopped; out 



Home, School and Church. 307 

we tumbled from our berths. " What now ? " is heard 
from room to room. " It is July 4th, and we are at the 
beautitul c Lake City,' Detroit. The captain is replenish- 
ing his larder, and you can have just one hour's ramble 
in the city." Off at half-past five ; we are out on the 
bosom of the broad lake, and in the afternoon we passed 
the spot where was fought the naval battle by Commo- 
dore Perry and his conquest of the British fleet. Night 
again was approaching, but before its curtains were drawn 
we assembled on the bow of the boat — had an address 
from Mr. Barber, a lawyer from Joliet, one of the passen- 
gers — uplifted our souls in prayer to God by the author, 
and the young ladies sung "America," the "Star Spangled 
Banner," several other patriotic songs, and the day closed 
upon our boat in evening silence and beauty. Next 
morning we entered the Canal, which has twenty-seven 
locks, and has a descent of three hundred and forty feet 
from the waters of Lake Erie to the waters of Ontario, 
and is forty-one miles in length. But few locks obstruct 
the way, until within four miles of the lake at Thorold. 
The lake is then in full view, but you stand upon the 
boat's deck three hundred feet above it, looking down, 
down, down in a descending circle upon the twenty- 
three locks, upon the canal, and upon the broad lake on 
whose bosom you will soon descend. Near the last lock, 
and upon the borders of the lake, is the city of St. Cath- 
erine, noted for its manufactories, and as the resort of 
many who found the Southern atmosphere too hot, espe- 
cially when General Grant had established himself before 
Richmond, and they sought a cooler climate at St. Cath- 
erine's. 



308 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Taking Oswego in our route, over Lake Ontario, and 
down the St. Lawrence river, among the " Thousand 
Islands," to Ogdensburg, we reached the end of our boat 
route. We next passed over the Vermont Central Rail- 
road to White River Junction, and thence to Manches- 
ter. A few days among our friends, preaching a Sabbath, 
attending a communion service in the church as it was 
when I left some ten years before, and we left for Boston, 
Providence, Coventry, Bridgewater, and that portion of 
New England which had been the scenes of my early 
life-labors. Here, instead of one, as we had anticipated, 
we spent two years, returning to the West in 1867. 
Three of our children remained in New England, who, 
with an extended circle of relatives and friends, wel- 
comed us to their homes. Within a few weeks I visited 
the town of my nativity, and the house in which I was 
born — the old house in Coventry Centre — walked over 
the old homestead, every rock of which was an old 
acquaintance, and every knot in the barn an old friend. 
I stood on the spot occupied by the old church — went 
to the old schoolhouse, where I had recited so many les- 
sons from that old grammar — stood in the little walled 
cemetery, twenty-five feet square, containing only six 
graves, where rest the remains of a dear father and 
mother ; there my mind traced back the line of child- 
hood, the sweet smiles, the earnest reproofs, the wise 
counsels, which, by God's blessing, has helped me up 
and on to live for right and truth. That evening I took 
by the hand an aged friend, who for years had been a 
judge of the County Court, now in his ninety-fourth year, 



Home, School and Church. 309 

who had lived near me in my boyhood, and had known 
me from the time I was six years old. As we parted 
he took my hand, saying, " Well, Richard, I am happy 
to see you again. You have done more good in the 
world, you and your family, than any boy who was ever 
raised in Coventry. I shall soon pass away, but I have 
a good hope; we shall meet again." Dear are the remem- 
brances of my old town and its surroundings. 

Soon the genealogical compilations of my earlier 
days, urged me to collect the material for a full and 
extended statistical record of our family; and at the 
same time the Congregational Church in Washington 
village, Coventry, the town where I had lived from 
the time I was six years old till I removed to Massachu- 
setts, being now destitute of a minister, invited me to sup- 
ply their pulpit during the time I remained in New Eng- 
land. I accepted on condition of being released from 
pastoral duty. During the winter following I deliverd a 
course of lectures on geology and history, which was well 
attended. The Sunday school claimed my attention, 
and, under a faithful superintendent, made fine progress 
in biblical study and sacred music. The school occu- 
pied the whole forenoon. A Bible class of nearly thirty 
mature minds was under my care. Preaching at three 
and seven p. m. The monthly Sunday school concerts 
were very interesting and awakened much interest ; large 
audiences assembled, and collections were sometimes 
taken up ; at one time we found a ten dollar note in the 
collection box. I thought it a mistake, supposing the 
contributor intended to give one instead of ten, and called 



31 o Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

attention to the subject, offering to correct the mistake, 
but no one appeared to claim it. Providence was now 
my central point, though I was traveling much of the time 
in getting the statistics and history of our family, and 
returning for Sabbath services. The school library hav- 
ing been some years in use, it was thought best to send 
it to some new-formed church in the West and purchase 
an entirely new one. To this end a concert, the same 
as in Manchester, 1854, embracing an " Illustration of 
the History of Joseph," was arranged and performed at 
the Washington Village, and also by invitation at the 
Phcenix Village, about two miles distant. The receipts 
were large, and after the purchase of a well-selected 
library about seventy-five dollars remained, a fund for 
future use. 

The genealogical work of our family met with encour- 
ment from our large and extended circle, and every assist- 
ance and information necessary was afforded. But one 
letter, of the scores which I sent to all parts of our coun- 
try, was unanswered. A meeting of the Stone family, 
residing in Providence and vicinity, was called, and an 
arrangement made to put an iron fence around the 
'* Old Burial Lot," and a granite monument to the mem- 
ory of our ancestors. A general family meeting was ap- 
pointed at the " Old Farm," four miles from Providence, 
to take place September, 1866. The published work, 
genealogical and biographical, of more than two hundred 
pages " royal octavo," was completed in August of the 
above year. A few extracts from the preface : " In the 
biographical notes the author has aimed to give some- 



Home, School and Church. 311 

thing more than isolated facts and dry annals; and 
although he has not, in consequence of the narrow limits 
assigned him, been able to set the reader down to the 
family fireside; or to introduce much of personal anec- 
dote or private adventure, or to fling any very enticing 
charm over the annals and statistics of our family record, 
yet he has the satisfaction of introducing you to our 
fathers and mothers, and to one another, and thus binding 
together the ties of brotherhood." On the day appointed 
for the family meeting, though showery and threatening, 
about five hundred assembled! I copy an account of 
this meeting from the u Providence Journal:" "At ten 
o'clock a. m. the family was called to order by the chair- 
man, Rev. Richard C. Stone, of Missouri. The exer- 
cises were commenced by reading from an old Bible, 
brought from England by Stukely Westcott, the com- 
panion of Roger Williams in his exile journey from Mas- 
sachusetts to Rhode Island, and owned by a family 
descended from both Westcott and Stone. An original 
ode, written for the occasion, by Alma Stone Metcalf, 
wife of Prof. T. Metcalf, of Normal University, Illinois, 
was then sung by the Harmoneons, under the direction 
of Capt. William Stone, of Providence. Introductory 
remarks were made by the chair, in which he alluded to 
the interest of the occasion. The spot where they stood 
was the farm of their common ancestor. In view were 
the farms of his three sons, one of which had been owned 
in the family one hundred and fifty -six years. There they 
lived, and toiled, and prayed, and slept at last in that 
lowly spot which we this day consecrate to their memory. 



312 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

Here we, their descendants, some of the ninth genera- 
tion, have come to look upon their graves, to cherish their 
memories, and imitate their virtues. The ode, a ' Hun- 
dred Years Ago,' was then sung, prayer was offered by- 
Rev. John Howson, of Chatham, Mass., and the chair 
introduced Mr. Denham Arnold, of Washington Univer- 
sity, the orator of the day. We cannot do justice to the 
clearness, strength and beauty of this address ; it dis- 
closed the well-read and accomplished scholar. Another 
ode, 'A Hundred Years to Come,' was sung, and they 
stood in the ' Old Stone Burial Ground,' where the first 
marked date is one hundred and fifty-five years ago / An 
unostentatious granite monument was here ready for 
erection. An original ode of three stanzas, each com- 
mencing with, ' Here rest the dead,' was sung, and a 
prayer of consecration was offered by Rev. Charles Stone 
Weaver, of Groton, Conn. A copper box, containing 
an organization of the family, names of the trustees of 
the burial lot, the circular addressed to the family by 
the committee, the names of all the contributors, and 
the book of geneaology and biography, published by 
Rev. Richard C. Stone, was placed in a cavity in the 
base, and the shaft was settled to its place. The whole 
was an occasion of great interest. It was truly a family 
gathering. Lemuel Stone, a patriarch of the family, aged 
eighty-five years, came from Luzerne County, Pennsyl- 
vania, four hundred miles. Hugh Stone, the only descend- 
ant who bears the ancestral name, and twelve others, came 
from the same section. Many from the States of Massa- 
chusetts and Connecticut were present to exchange con- 



Home, School and Church. 313 

gratulations with their relatives here, to learn the history 
and emulate the worth of the departed, and encourge 
the virtues of the living." Aided by two friends, a few 
weeks before the Stone family gathering, I removed the 
remains of three of the second generation from the orig- 
inal place of their burial. The following, copied from the 
" Journal," will explain itself: 

" The trustees of the ' Old Stone Burial Ground,' on 
the Pontiac Road, a few miles southwest of Elmwood, 
Providence, have recently removed the remains of three 
of their ancestors to that place. John Stone (4), his first 
wife, Hannah Barnes, and his second wife, Abigail Fos- 
ter. The bones were in an entire state of preservation. 
The first wife had been buried one hundred and fifty- 
four years*, the man one hundred and seven years, the 
second wife one hundred and five years. Hannah 
Barnes, buried in 17 12, was* a little girl at the decease of 
Roger Williams, and died when between thirty and forty 
years of age, and yet the skeleton was as sound and as 
perfect as if cleansed and kept in a case. The hair, 
braided, wound up in a coil, was as sound and as per- 
fect as when she was laid down to sleep, although one 
hundred and fifty-four years of summer and winter have 
passed away, varied by Indian warfare, French conquest, 
colonial struggle, revolution, independence, growth from 
less than two to thirty- five millions, a rebellion crushed, 
and the Goddess of Liberty enthroned throughout our 
land, since that hair was braided and coiled in sorrowing 
kindness on the head where most of it still rests. Her 
descendants are and have been more than two thousand. 



314 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

More than half that number are now living. These 
remains were buried from five to six feet deep, on a 
small ridge of land, near a branch of the Pochasset river, 
the bottom of the grave some seven or eight feet above 
the level of the branch, in a bluish, sandy clay." 

This family gathering, in its genealogical reminiscences, 
in its extended acquaintance, in its awakened religious 
reflection, in its deepening and strengthening mental 
soul-action in all those religiously disposed, was felt and 
realized. In sight of the " Old Burial Lot," and on land 
taken from the farm, owned by the family one hundred and 
fifty-six years, was built the first church in that vicinity. 
That old church has been in ruins nearly one hundred 
years. On land adjoining, in 1872, was erected and dedi- 
cated a beautiful and commodious chapel. Many of the 
family contributed, not only those in the surrounding 
towns, but some even in the Far West After a respite 
from my labors, and a continuous visit among old and 
new friends in New England, we again prepared for our 
return, but the sickness of our eldest daughter, the wife 
of Col. S. C. Arnold, of Providence, demanded our con- 
tinued stay. Long weeks and months we watched be- 
side her sick bed, until early in May, as the flowers were 
blooming in brightness and beauty, she passed to the 
land where its flowers never fade. 

On May 23d we left Providence for New York city, 
where we stopped one day ; then on to Elizabeth City, 
crossed the Delaware, passed through the "water- gap," 
up, up to Polono, on to Scranton, and then to Waverly, 
the central point of our relatives in Luzerne County, 



Home, School and Church. 315 

Penn. With these friends and relatives — more than a 
hundred in this portion of the State — we had a most 
interesting visit of twelve days. On the Sunday following 
our arrival, I preached in the Baptist house, morn and eve, 
and the Sunday succeeding in the Presbyterian, morning, 
and Methodist, evening. This visit not only introduced 
me to relatives and friends unknown before, but to the 
" clasic valley of the Wyoming " — to the thousand hills 
and mountains which lift up their heads in this land of 
wildness, grandeur, beauty and mineral wealth. After 
enjoying the cordial welcome at the houses of those who 
themselves, or their fathers or mothers^ had known me in 
my boyhood days; after enjoying their ample accommoda- 
tions, walking through their streets, or looking over their 
beautifully rolling and finely cultivated farms ; in company 
with a few friends, we visited the real " Valley of the 
Wyoming," some twenty miles in length, and averaging 
three or more miles in breadth, on both banks of the 
Susquehanna. Have you ever read the poem, " Ger- 
trude of Wyoming," by the English poet Thomas Camp- 
bell ? It will well repay the perusal. It cannot fail to 
interest, as the poet depicts the wooded brow of the 
mountain, the smiling vale below, as it holds in its em- 
brace the gentle, winding river, and paints in glowing 
colors the trials, the sorrows, the heart-crushing, life- 
chilling scenes through which his heroine passed in 
this her home in the Wyoming Valley. And now, 
as you read, remember that the horrors of Indian 
attack and border warfare have written their own history 
in words more thrilling, and with ink of a bloodier hue 



316 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

than is the language of the poet, on every acre of this 
lovely spot. Carbondale, Scranton and Pittston, with 
their deeply imbedded treasures of coal, are on the Lack- 
awana, and all within about twenty miles of Campbell's 
Ledge, the point of its confluence with the Susquehanna. 
On either side of the valley the mountain ranges rise 
from eight hundred to a thousand feet high. Viewed 
from " Prospect Rock," three miles east of Wilkesbarre, 
the county seat of Luzerne, and the point on which we 
stood, the western slope presents the appearance of a 
beautiful, ascending plain, with its utmost borders skirted 
by the sky or merged in the clouds, while its whole sur- 
face-extent is diversified and beautified by the varied 
processes of cultivation. The eastern side is precipitous, 
almost entirely barren, but very picturesque in its wild 
scenery, diversified with rocks, ravines, cliffs and forests. 
From " Prospect Rock " we had a view of the monu- 
ment which we afterward visited. It stands on the spot 
where the battle of Wyoming was fought, on the 3d of 
July, 1778. Here a small band of American patriots, 
chiefly the undisciplined, the youthful, and the aged, 
spared by their inefficiency from the regular army, bravely 
fought a British, a Tory, and an Indian force of nearly 
three times their number. They numbered two hundred 
and eight; one hundred and sixty-six fell in battle, or 
were massacred after being taken prisoners, in accord- 
ance with savage sacrificial custom; forty-two made 
their escape. It is well established that sixteen prisoners 
were taken to a rock, a short distance east of the battle 
scene, to be sacrificed by Queen Esther — Catherine Mon- 



Home, School and Church. 317 

tour, a half blood — to the manes of a son who had been 
killed as a scout just before the battle. It was a terrible 
tragedy. Eleven had been seated one by one upon the 
rock and slain. Lebbeus Hammond and Joseph Elliott 
were near each other, their turn was about to come, 
Hammond's brother was seated on the rock, all eyes 
were gazing on the fatal scene, Hammond spoke in a 
low tone to Elliott, " Let's try." In a moment they were 
free, escaping for life. Like two wild deer they bounded 
down the river's bank, and, partially aided by the shad- 
ows of evening, they made their way to the fort near 
Wilkesbarre. I stood upon the rock which was the scene 
of this fell tragedy. It bears to this day the name, 
" Queen Esther's Rock," is a large boulder, nearly flat on 
the top, five or six feet in diameter, and rising out of the 
ground nearly two feet. I stood by the monument which 
marks the events of that fatal day, and read the names 
of those brave men / one hundred and sixty-six in num- 
ber, whose ashes repose at c its base. Several volumes 
have been written, one by Dr. George Peck, another by 
Col. William Leet Stone, giving the history of Wyoming 
with all its soul-stirring incidents. 

On my return to Waverly I was introduced to Mrs. 
Deborrah Bedford, the mother of Dr. Bedford of that 
place, then ninety-five years old, who, when a little girl 
of six, during the battle scenes of that fatal year, was 
carried a captive among the Indians. Her mind reverts 
back with great vividness to those by-gone years, the 
savage shout, the startling warwhoop ! Those scenes 
of her girlhood days are oftentimes before her. One 



318 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

description of the old lady was somewhat amusing. Her 
father was a Quaker. As the Indians gathered about his 
house the family expected to be made prisoners. The 
father, not thinking they would strip him, put on his best 
Quaker suit, I think she said his wedding suit. The 
first Indian that came into the house, after he was fairly 
dressed, stripped off everything the father had on except 
his shirt ! Imaginati6n painted to me the appearance of 
that Indian in his nice, broad-skirted drab, with his gun, 
and powder-horn, and bullet-pouch, and a string of scalps 
fastened around his waist. One thing was peculiar in 
Mrs. Bedford's visits to dreamland for eighty years. 
From the time of her captivity, when six years old, till 
she was eighty-six, she never dreamed of anything but 
what was in some way connected with Indians — scenes 
in which they mingled and formed a part, oftentimes 
startiing and awakening, never pleasant and agreeable. 
For the last nine years the Indians have all entirely 
passed away. She dreams of them no more. 

On the 6th of June, accompanied to the depot by 
many friends, among whom was the old veteran of 
eighty-five, with whom we had enjoyed so many happy 
hours during his visit to Rhode Island, and my visit to 
Pennsylvania, the man who was the first Sabbath school 
superintendent in the town of Abington, was the first 
justice of the peace, was the first man to do his haying 
and harvesting without whisky — in fact, the man who led 
off in every good work ; to this group of dear friends we 
gave the parting hand, and completed our journey to our 
home in the West. 



Home, School and Church. 319 

The summer and early autumn was spent with our 
children at Chicago, Normal, Hamburg, and St. Louis, 
and we finally arranged, being now in my seventieth year, 
to make St. Louis my permanent residence. " It is not 
in man, however, that walketh to direct his steps." My 
course of life was at this point entirely changed from 
my own and my wife's expectations. If God pervades 
the world of matter, is the cause to which every event 
must be traced — if Deity 

" Glows in the stars and blossoms in the trees " — 

the world of the spirit, higher and greater, cannot be neg- 
lected by him. His goodness will certainly engage him 
to direct every agency to subserve that interest, which 
finds in him its infinite spring. This we may not un- 
derstand; of the manner of its consistency with man's 
agency we may be unacquainted; but the fact is un- 
doubted, " That man's heart deviseth his way, but the 
Lord directeth his steps." 



CHAPTER VII. 

I had been in St. Louis about two months, when my 
wife and myself were invited to dine at Dr. Post's. Sit- 
ting at the table, he said to me, " I have received a letter 
from Bunker Hill, asking me to send some one to preach 
there next Sabbath. I think you had better go." I 
accordingly went, not knowing the reason why the pul- 



320 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

pit was vacant, ind not having the least idea of preach- 
ing beyond the coming Sabbath. 

I learned that their former pastor of two years' supply 
had recently been dismissed, his salary paid up, and a 
state of affairs existing which forbade his continuance or 
usefulness. They had been without a pulpit supply two 
Sabbaths. I preached on Sunday, January 26th, and, by 
request, stopped over Monday, and held a prayer meet- 
ing in the evening. This was well attended, more than 
fifty were refreshed, edified and elevated by the fervor 
and spirituality which seemed kindling into life among 
them. An arrangement was made for my return, also 
for the continuance of the meetings each evening during 
the next week; preaching at 7^ p. m , and prayer and 
inquiry meetings at an earlier hour. On Monday, Feb- 
ruary 3d, thirty-one were at inquiry meeting ; thirteen 
rose for prayers. On Monday, February 10th, sixty 
were present; thirty-one rose for prayers. A large awak- 
ened interest also was felt among the Baptists; and the 
Methodists had commenced a daily evening service some 
two weeks before it was begun in ours. One feature of 
holiness appeared in Bunker Hill which much interested 
me — the union of the Churches, The regular services 
were held in all the Churches at 10^ a. m. and 7^ p. 
m. A union meeting of all the Churches had alternately 
been held in the several houses of worship for prayer and 
praise, on Sunday at three o'clock p. m., for two months 
or more, and though not. marked for its interest in its. 
early stages, yet it had become a halo of light, blessing 
with its genial voice of love all our families. I here 



Home, School and Church. 321 

subjoin a copy from the Church Records, being a sum- 
ming up of the religious Church action, the number 
received to Church membership, and the favorable re- 
sults of the early part of 1868, the year in which I was 
called to the pastorate : 

" As will be seen by the preceding records, the past 
year has been most blessed and eventful in the history 
of this Church. Fifty-eight have joined our Church by 
profession, and seven by letter (total 65). The religious 
interest, which resulted in this great and glorious revival, 
appears to have originated in a union prayer and confer- 
ence meeting, commenced November 24th, by a few 
brethren of the several Churches. January 26th, Rev. 
Richard C. Stone began his labors, and, shortly after, a 
young people's prayer and inquiry meeting was com- 
menced. These meetings soon became intensely inter- 
esting. At the second of these meetings, sixty were 
present, thirty- one arose for prayers. For six weeks 
they were abundantly blessed, and, finally, grew into an 
established ' young people's prayer meeting.' The faith- 
ful assistance of the Church, with the earnest, untiring 
labors of Mr. Stone, were abundantly blessed and owned 
of God. Animosities were healed; differences removed; 
backsliders reclaimed, and some, who had long wandered 
in the vale of worldly darkness, returned in penitential 
tears. 

"Sabbath, March 10th, is a day long to be remem- 
bered in the history of this Church. Forty-seven (47), 
all but two, by profession, publicly consecrated them- 
selves to God, On May 3d twelve (12) more, and on 



322 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

August 2d six (6) more — total 65. As we review the 
past year, we can but say ' the Lord hath done great 
things for us, whereof we are glad.' 

" Thomas F. Webb, 
" Nov. 18, 1868. " Clerk of Congregational Church." 
Some erroneous statements appearing in the Advance, 
the following article was published in that paper, over 
the signature of the Church Clerk : 

" Bunker Hill, May 4th, 1868. 
" Mr. Editor: Please give this a place in your paper, 
that it may subserve the interests of truth and the cause 
of God. A powerful revival has been in progress in 
Bunker Hill, 111., in which the Baptist and Methodist 
have largely partaken. In "January last, Rev. R. C. 
Stone commenced with us as acting pastor, and, up to 
the present time, has received no clerical aid whatever. 
Early in February, a series of meetings for preaching, 
prayer and inquiry were commenced in the Congrega- 
tional Church, and continued nearly through February 
and March. No extra meetings, with any success, were 
held before. The labors of both pastor and Church were 
abundantly blessed. Fifty-nine (59), all by profession, 
except three, have been received into the Church within 
the last two months, and some ten or twelve more are 
hopeful believers. Among those received, are twenty- 
four (24) heads of families; eleven (n) young men of 
the fourteen (14) composing the young men's Bible class, 
aged from 18 to 25 ; one lawyer: one insurance agent; 
the editor of the Union Gazette; three of our most enter- 



Home, School and Church. , 

prising merchants, and the work has not ceased. To 
Him be all the glory. The Church has unanimously 
invited Mr. Stone to become their pastor. 

"Thomas F. Webb, 
" Clerk of Congregational Church." 

During the early autumn of 1868 our new Church was 
commenced, retaining of the former strnctureonly a por- 
tion of the old side walls. The work proceeded with 
vigor, and, on the 2 2d of November, the Vestry, com- 
pleted under the east portion, was dedicated, and occu- 
pied for the regular Sabbath service until the completion 
of the house in March, 1869. The Church was ready 
for dedication just thirty years from the erection of the 
first Church in Bunker Hill. I copy the following from 
the Church Records of 1839: "During this year, the 
citizens of Bunker Hill erected a house, 18 feet by 26 
feet, for Church and School purposes. This building, 
located only a few feet from the present Congregational 
Church edifice, was the scene of a most powerful and 
interesting revival in 1839. That rough, unplastered 
little room, hung around with shawls and blankets to 
keep out the winter storms, became a Bethel. Father 
Blake preached, and Christians prayed, and hearts were 
knit together in Christian love." 

The dedication of our house on Sunday morning, 
March 31st, called out a large congregation. The agent 
of the A. H. M. S. was present, and the Baptists and 
Methodists suspended their morning service, expressive of 
their sympathy and fellowship. Prosperity, by God's 



324 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

blessing, attended us. The families finding a Christian 
home with us, when I came here, were sixty-seven; of 
them, thirteen have moved away or death has closed up 
their dwellings ; fifty four still remain ; there have come 
with us, during my four years' ministry, forty- two fam- 
ilies — total now with us, ninety-six families, a net increase 
of twenty-nine families. The Church, of resident mem- 
bers, at the time I received the invitation, numbered 
sixty-eight (68) ; at the time of my resignation, the resi- 
dent members numbered one hundred and thirty-three 
(133), and four stood propounded — net increase, includ- 
ing those propounded, sixty nine (69). During the four 
years of my pastoral charge, ninety-six (96) had been 
received to the Church — the difference between sixty-five 
residents and ninety-six, is thirty-one — of these, eighteen 
have left the place and taken letters to other Churches ; 
fellowship has been withdrawn from seven, mostly for 
unreported absences; and six have been called by their 
Heavenly Father " over the river " to the better land. 

In 1870, a voice was heard by the Congregational 
Churches of our land. It was the year of jubilee, two 
hundred and fifty (250) years from the landing of the 
Pilgrims. It was a call for renewed energies, to a recon- 
secration, to more faithful action, to meet present liabil- 
ities and to arrange new plans for the advancement of 
truth and holiness. On the last Sabbath of 1869, I read 
the call from the pulpit. The next day measures were 
taken to square off the balance now resting on the 
Society, and for our Church expenses and liabilities. 
One of the trustees, with myself, were chosen as a com 



Home, School and Church. 325 

mittee, and before the next Sabbath, one week, we had 
paid in or pledged, the whole amount needed, $6620, 
and had on hand, $140 more. I subjoin an editorial 
article from the " Bunker Hill Gazette : " 

" Church Matters, January, 1870.— At a meeting 
of the Congregational Society on Tuesday, it was an- 
nounced that the entire remaining indebtedness of the 
organization, amounting to nearly $4000, had been ar- 
ranged, and that the Society had entered upon the new 
year unincumbered by debt. The liberality of the mem- 
bers of the Society, in thus promptly assuming this burden, 
is worthy of much commendation, and no one is more 
deserving of credit than the pastor, Rev. R. C. Stone. 
To this gentleman the organization is indebted for his 
most persistent energy in securing the happy result, and 
for his great liberality in contributing generous sums to 
this object. As announced from the pulpit, he will retire 
from the active labors of the ministry at the close of the 
present year. Nor could a pastor retire with greater 
honor. During a ministry here of three years, he has 
strengthened the Church by large additions, and, while 
under his charge, the congregation has erected and paid 
for one of the most handsome Church edifices in the 
State. In the pulpit, and in the Sabbath School, he has 
proved himself an efficient laborer, while in the family 
circles he has endeared himself to young and to old. 
When the Rev. Pastor finally retires from active labor, 
the Church may well regret it, for his position cannot 
soon be so acceptably filled." 

During the early part of my ministry at Bunker Hill 



326 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

I made the acquaintance of a family whose ancestral 
head I had known in New England. I copy the follow- 
ing notice : " On the 25th ult., the family of Maj. Eben- 
ezer Mattoon, of Bunker Hill, consisting of four genera- 
tions, met at his house, with their minister and a few 
invited friends, to commemorate the sacrificial death of 
their Savior. It was a time of peculiar interest. The 
veteran soldier of the Cross, now almost eighty-seven 
years of age, suffering from disease, and bolstered up in 
his chair ; the wife of his youth, with whom he had lived 
sixty-four years, sitting beside him; their descendants, to 
the fourth generation, including a lad of fourteen, who 
had just given his heart to his great grandfather's God, 
all gathered with their patriarch under the ancestral roof, 
and there listening to the command of Jesus, " this do in 
remembrance of' me !" Truly this aged man could say, 
" Verily, I say unto you, I will drink no more of the 
fruit of the vine till I drink it with you new in my 
Father's kingdom." (He passed away in July current.) 
The interest of the occasion was heightened by the 
fact that Rev. R. C. Stone, the officiating minister, had, 
in his very early life, known the father of this family, 
Gen. Ebenezer Mattoon, of Amherst, Mass., (the Gene- 
ral's picture was hanging on the walls, as the Communion 
was administered to the tour generations of his posterity) 
and received from him an account of his connection with 
a delegation to the frontier Indians, long before the war 
of the Revolution ; and,, at that time, he listened to 
speeches of the elder Red Jacket and of Williams, a 
half-blood chief, grandson of the old Deerfield minister, 



Home, School and Church. 327 

captured by the Indians with his family in 1675. Thus 
the officiating minister was acquainted, personally, with 
five generations of the Mattoon family. 

On one occasion, when journeying to the city, I was 
seated beside a Catholic Priest, with whom I entered 
into conversation, and the following dialogue ensued : 

Stone. — What will be the result of your Ecumenical 
Council ? 

Priest. — O, it will come out right ; there will be no 
essential disagreement. 

S. — Will they agree upon Papal Infallibility ? 

P. — Surely. There will be no important disagreement 
upon that. That will be acknowledged. 

S. — What do you understand by Papal Infallibility ? 
That the Pope's decision upon doctrine and practice is 
always God's truth ? 

P. — Yes; upon religious subjects, when connected 
with the decision of a Council of Bishops and Cardinals. 

S. — Do you not believe the Pope's word infallible 
without a Council ? 

P.— No ! no sensible man believes that. It is the 
Pope and Council which constitute authority which is 
final. It was established by St. Andrew when on the 
cross, and confirmed by St. Augustine in 421. (Here 
he named other Councils.) 

S. — But you claim higher authority than St. Andrew, 
do you not ? The commission of Christ to Peter. 

P. — Indeed we do. The direct commission to Peter. 

S. — Christ does not say anything oi a Council to aid 
Peter. 



328 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

P. — Well, so the Church understands the command, 
and so the Apostles understood it. 

S. — So, then, you will not take the decision of any 
Pope. But you say it requires a Pope and Council to 
establish a religious truth. 

P.— Indeed, I do. 

S. — Suppose a Council of Bishops and Cardinals 
should agree upon a point, and the Pope should sanc- 
tion it, would you accept it in all cases as truth ? 

P. — To be sure I would. It would have the sanction 
of heaven. How could I disbelieve it ? ' 

S. — How do you know it would have the sanction of 
heaven ? Because one hundred men, fallible, like your- 
self, say so ; is that it ? 

P. — The Pope and Council speak from heaven on all 
matters of faith. They are not fallible men. 

S. — Suppose two questions, " The Immaculate Concep- 
tion " and " Papal Infallibility," are before a Council of 
one hundred. The Council vote fifty in favor ot " Imma- 
culate Conception," and fifty against it. Now, suppose 
the Pope gives his casting vote for it, so the proposition 
is sustained, fifty- one to fifty. Will you say that the 
majority, the fifty-one, speak from heaven ? 

P. — To be sure I will, and I will receive their word 
as truth. 

S. — And the other fifty, who were on the other side, 
were fallible men ; made a mistake ? 

P. — The Pope and Council speak from heaven, and I 
will receive their decisions. (Here he dashed off in an 
excited talk of Councils and decrees and heretics.) 



Home, School and Church. 329 

S. — Will you please answer my question ? Were the 
fifty who voted against the " Immaculate Conception," 
fallible men ? Did they make a mistake ? 

P. — Well, yes. In that matter they did. 

S. — -Now, suppose the other question comes up, "Papal 
Infallibility," and the same fifty that made the mistake 
before — the same fifty that voted against the "Immaculate 
Conception " — now vote with the Pope for infallibility. 
Here you have fifty- one a majority again — the Pope and 
the fifty mistaken men. Does this Council speak from 
heaven ? 

P. — (Excitedly.) No such thing can take place. You 
know nothing about it. You are ignorant of facts. 

S. — Please answer my question. (Here he broke in, 
saying, the Church understands the truth ; you are igno- 
rant; the Councils, etc.) Please allow me to state the 
question. (Here he broke in again, saying, the Pope 
and Councils know; you know nothing about it.) I 
wish, sir, that you knew enough, and had sufficient self- 
respect to behave like a gentleman. 

P.— Well, what ? 

S. — I listened to your statement without interrupting 
you. I put to you a plain question, a sequence of your 
own proposition. You deny the question, and refuse to 
allow me to restate it. I am sure you see its force. 

P. — I say that your supposition is impossible. 

S. — You admitted its possibility in the " Immaculate 
Conception." Said the fifty who voted with the Pope 
spoke from heaven, and the other fifty who voted against 
made a mistake. Show me, and those listening, why the 



33° Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

converse of that may not be true ; and the fifty mistaken 
Bishops, in another case, vote on the right side; and 
why the fifty, who voted right before, may not vote 
wrong now. 

P. — You do not understand the subject. We believe 
that Christ gave the power to Peter to discriminate be- 
tween truth and error, and this power has been trans- 
mitted to the Bishop of Rome, the Pope. 

S. — But you said you would refuse the Pope's decree 
unless backed by a Council. Your answer, then, must 
be, the Pope is the only one who sees the heavenly truth. 
The Council is, to a man, fallible — you have admitted 
one fifty were; of course, the other could be — but the 
Pope can do nothing without a majority of these mistake- 
makers to support him ; but with this majority of fallible 
men, he can bind the whole world for time and eternity j 
This is your consistency. 

P. — Sir, understand, Christ said, " thou art Peter, and 
on this Rock I will build my Church." 

S. — If Peter then had the power, why trouble him with 
a Council ? But leaving that point ; how do you under- 
stand the subject relative to Peter, " Thou art Peter " — 
in the Greek, Herpog — " and on this rock I will build my 
Church." Does the Savior mean the same by Peter's 
name as by " this Rock ? " 

P. — To be sure he does. 

S. — Then the literal meaning is " Thou art a Rock, 
and on thee, the same rock, I will build my Church." Do 
you say that this is the meaning which your Church 
puts upon these words of Jesus ? 



Home, School and Church. 331 

P. — I do; and he said more: "I will give unto thee 
the keys of the kingdom of heaven." 

S. — Why, then, if this is Christ's meaning, does the 
Savior use two words of different meaning and of differ- 
ent gender — the one masculine, the other feminine — to 
express it ? 

P. — Can you read Greek? The gender is nothing. 
We call the sun " he," and the moon " she." The gen- 
der is nothing. You know nothing about it. The word 
Peter means rock. 

S. — Your assertions. (Here he broke in again). When 
you get through I will speak. (He kept on two minutes 
or more very excitedly). Are you through, so that I can 
answer without interruption. 

P.— Yes. 

S. — Iv ec Ilerpoc, translated, " Thou art Peter," is in 
the masculine gender; "ILerpog" signifies 'a stone," a 
" fragment of a rock," a "movable rock." TZiu ravre re 
Herpa, translated, " Upon this rock," is in the feminine 
gender; "Herpa." (Here he broke in again). Stop, 
sir, or you will have to go to confession for breaking 
your promise. You said you would keep still. 

P. — I will not keep still and hear our Church slan- 
dered and abused. 

S. — I said nothing of your Church ; I was examining 
the Greek phrase em rarve re Herpa. 

P. — You know nothing of Greek; I am a priest, and 
have been a professor of Greek for fifteen years. 

S. — Prove what I say is incorrect. You know those 
words, Herpog and Herpa, have different meanings — 



332 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

the first, a stone, i. e., a fragment of a rock; * the last, a 
rock, a strata, a solid basis, t You know also, that gen- 
der is not applied in its natural sense — i. e., to the male 
and female only, both in the Latin and Greek languages ; 
that in Latin mundus, a world, is masculine, and penna, 
a pen, is feminine ; and also ITerpoc, a stone, is mascu- 
line, and ILerpa, a. ledge, a strata, is feminine. These 
forms — genders they are called — exist in the structure of 
the language. I challenge you to prove the identity, in 
signification, of these two words which we are consider- 
ing, which are the basis of the Catholic Church. 

P. — What do you know of Greek ? Have you ever 
read Sophocles, and Euripides ? 

S. — I have; and Xenophon, and Homer. 

P. — Have you the original manuscript as it was orig- 
ally in Hebrew ? 

S. — I have not ; neither have you. There is but'one 
manuscript of Matthew's Gospel in existence, and that 
is in Greek. 

P. — It was written in Hebrew, and we have the an- 
cient copies in the various languages by St. Augustine 
and Jerome. Our Church has the full understanding, 
and all the proofs. 

S. — Sir, such assertions do not amount to much. You 
fairly give up the argument founded on the Greek criti- 

*Petros is used but once in the New Testament, except as a per- 
son's name, and then is translated "a stone." 

\Petra is used many times in the New Testament, and is always 
translated "a rock," as "dug deep and laid the foundation on a 
rock:' 



Home, School and Church. 333 

cisms of St. Matthew, and boldly entrench yourself be- 
hind your Church, " Our Church has the full under- 
standing, and all the proofs," is your language. Any 
man, however unlearned, could say this, but we should 
expect different things from a learned priest and ex- 
professor. 

P. — I can prove my point by Gregory the Great, St. 
Jerome, Leo X, and a host of others. But you are ignor- 
ant and know nothing about it. 

S. — I will show you, or any man who will call upon me, 
that the only copy of Matthew's Gospel which the world 
knows was written in Greek, some twelve or fifteen years 
after the Savior's death. Remember I am speaking of 
the original manuscript , not copies, and prove it by the 
learned researches of Dr. Stowe. 

P. — Dr. Stowe! he is as big a fool as you are; he 
knows nothing of the matter. 

S. — Suppose I should call your Archbishop Manning 
a fool, would any sensible man believe me? Would 
he not rather think I made myself a fool by calling him 
so? 

P. — Our Church, sir, is informed on these matters. I 
have the very documents which show the foundation. 

S. — What documents ? Nothing but an original manu- 
script, written by St. Matthew, will touch the point. 

P. — I have the manuscripts written by St. Augustine 
and St. Jerome. 

S. — I will give you one hundred dollars to produce 
and prove a manuscript written by either of those men, 
though that would not help you. 



334 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

P. — One hundred dollars ! I do not believe you have 
one hundred cents. 

S. — I will place the money or its value in the hands 
of another. 

P. — I will not produce it for one hundred ; I will for 
five hundred. 

S. — Sir, I am only twenty-five miles from home; it 
will give you but very little trouble, and your Church 
needs money You tax almost every servant girl, who 
earns one hundred dollars per year, five dollars or more. 
You had better take my hundred for your Church, which 
you can get so easily, and ease off some of the poor 
girls. 

P. — You fool — you liar — you scoundrel ; I will not 
talk with you ; I will not cast my pearls before swine. 

S. — Please, sir, do not be so angry. Those people 
who are listening to our conversation know my state- 
ments are correct with regard to servant girls, and they 
most probably feel that it would be a very difficult mat- 
ter for you to produce a manuscript written by the hand 
of St. Augustine. (Here he blustered and showed a 
great degree of anger). I am sorry to see you so un- 
happy, and would recommend you to go to your Bishop 
on reaching the city and confess, that on the cars you 
met a man who differed from you in faith ; that you 
could not scare him, nor drive him, nor make him angry; 
that you became uncomfortably angry, called him a fool, 
a liar, a scoundrel, a swine, .and then do " the penance " 
which he measures out, and you will feel more comfort- 
able. 



Home, School and Church. 335 

Fifteen minutes brought us to St. Louis. As we were 
about to part, he looked up, smiled, and held out his 
hand which I accepted very cordially. 

During the early summer of my third year at Bunker 
Hill I attended the State Association at Aurora. The 
two days spent there had both been interesting and 
instructive. On Saturday morning I had intended to 
leave for Chicago, where, with my wife, who was at my 
son's, I expected to spend the Sabbath. I was well, and 
breakfasted as usual on the morning of my departure . 
then, walking nearly half a mile to the station, was some 
five minutes in advance of the cars. While having my 
" pass " examined by the station agent the train came 
up, making some few minutes stop to switch off the 
engine to take an additional car. As they stopped I 
walked across the platform to the entrance of the rear 
.car, asking if this was the Chicago train. This is the 
last I remember; all consciousness departed. Its return 
found me stretched upon the platform, my head sup- 
ported, and surrounded by thirty or forty men and wo- 
men. As consciousness and memory gained strength, I 
recognized among the crowd Rev. H. W. Cobb, who 
immediately spoke, asking me if I knew him. All recol- 
lections of the morning had gone. I inquired where I 
was; he informed me, and slowly my remembrance came 
up to the before described point. I was subsequently 
informed that I fell apparently dead, and lay without 
signs of life from twenty to thirty minutes ; that a physi- 
cian got out of the cars during the delay, made an exam- 
ination, then saying to the crowd on the platform, " He's 



336 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

gone," returned to the cars. As he turned away Mr. 
Cobb coming up knew me, and he exclaimed, " It is 
Rev. Mr. Stone, of Bunker Hill; he is a healthy man; 
he cannot be dead." Busy hands and active life-energies 
were quickly at work. A physician was sent for, but 
before he arrived, nature had faintly resumed her 
labors, and I was taken back to the kind family in which 
I had for a few days found a home. Their family physi** 
cian was called, and several of the faculty, learning the 
circumstances, came in, and all was done which kind- 
ness and sympathy could devise. Through God's bless- 
ing I was soon restored to comparative health, though 
for two weeks or more I felt the effects of this sudden 
arrest of physical and mental power. 

While these events were transpiring the "Association" 
assembled at eight o'clock a. M.,.and the following record 
was made by that body : 

"SATURDAY MORNING SESSION." 

"At this stage of the proceedings, information having- 
been received of the sudden and dangerous illiness of 
Rev. R. C. Stone, as he was about to return to the field 
of his labors ; the Association united in prayer, led by 
Rev. H. D. Piatt, in behalf of the afflicted brother, and 
for a blessing upon the body of which he was a 
member." 

Returning health enabled me that same afternoon to 
return to my son's at Chicago, and the next day, Sun- 
day evening, I preached in the South Congregational 
Church in that city. Between three and four years have 
since passed away. Syncope, probably, from whatever 



Home, School and Church. 337 

cause, has never returned. For two years I continued 
the pastorate in Bunker Hill without diminished labors, 
and now, three and a half years after, my health is and 
has been unusually good for one of my years. The 
echo of that day, however, still sounds, " Be ye also 
ready." 

The religious and educational events of these years 
were uniformly progressive ; but little sickness visited us ; 
a district schoolhouse, costing twenty-five thousand dol- 
lars, was erected, and the general interest of education 
claimed and received an attention gratifying to all those 
who understand the basis of republican freedom and 
Christian faith. 

In the spring of 187 1 I received an earnest and press- 
ing invitation from the Trustees of the " Monticello La- 
dies' Seminary " to accept the financial agency of the 
corporation, in securing assistance in aid of the more 
indigent, so that the Seminary might, by its own funds, 
be made accessible to all those having the desire and 
possessing the capacity of securing a thorough education 
in all its several departments. Also to secure funds for 
erecting an additional wing now rendered necessary by 
its increasing demands. The following letters will ex- 
press my views and decisions upon the subject : 

Bunker Hill, June 17, 187 1. 

To Mr. Leander Maclean, Trustee of Monticello Ladies' 
Seminary :. 

Dear and Respected Friend — I have taken the subject 
of the agency of your Seminary into serious, earnest and 
22 



338 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

prayerful consideration. I regard the object which you 
propose to accomplish second to none which now calls 
out and influences human action — the religious, moral 
and scientific development of the female mind. And 
while I thank you for the kind and earnest invitation 
which you have so unanimously and cordially extended 
to me, yet circumstances beyond my control require me 
to decline the position. One reason, my temperament 
is such that it would keep me in a continual excitement. 
If I were successful it would produce an exhilaration of 
spirit giving a continued strain, pressure, tension to the 
nervous system, and seriously affect my health. If, on 
the other hand, my action and labors were a partial or 
total failure, it would produce a depression which would 
render me miserably unhappy. At my advanced age I 
need quiet, and the times of cessation from care and toil 
must be frequent and somewhat extended. Again, I 
have consulted my physician, in whom I have great con- 
fidence, who assures me that I shall break down under 
the labor of travel, and the cares and toils, of such an 
agency, within three months. Again, my wife is unyield- 
ingly opposed to my acceptance of the position. She is 
and has been uneasy and strongly opposed to my travel- 
ing alone, and being away from home, unless accom- 
panied by an especial friend, since my " fainting fall " at 
Aurora. This agency will take me from home most of 
the time. More than this, she has no children near her; 
she is not, nor has been during her life a woman of self- 
reliance ; she needs now, especially, an arm to lean upon, 
and, at her time of life, to be left much of the time alone 



Home, School and Church. 339 

with only a girl assistant, and under the apprehension 
of my being brought home lifeless, is a position she can- 
not endure. I much regret that I cannot engage in the 
advancement of an object so worthy, especially as many 
things so happily conspire to render the position to me 
desirable. The present success of the Seminary; the 
entire confidence which I have in Miss Haskell, your 
worthy and efficient Principal, and the teachers in the 
several departments by whom she is aided ; the knowl- 
edge of, and acquaintance with, and confidence in, the 
judgment and unselfish aims of the Trustees — these 
causes altogether conspire to lead me to wish the way 
was open to me to perform the work as you have so 
generously requested. I confidently hope, and earn- 
estly pray, that you may find some one who may meet 
your expectations, and accomplish the great good to 
which you are all aiming. Please send this letter to 
Miss Haskell. 

Yours respectfully, R. C. Stone. 

Godfrey, July 3, 1871. 

Rev. R. C. Stone, My Dear Friend — Your letter of the 
17th ult., declining the appointment of agent for " Mon- 
ticello Seminary," came duly to hand, and I need hardly 
tell you that great was my disappointment, though in 
my heart I was forced to acknowledge the force of your 
objections. I sent your letter to Miss Haskell as you 
requested, and she was equally strong in her expressions 
of regret with myself. We feel there is an urgent de- 



340 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

mand for such an agent, and have written to another 
party on the subject, but have received no answer as yet. 

Your friend truly, L. Maclean. 

In January, 1872, as I had before given notice, I 
requested a dismission from the church with which I 
had been laboring. A supply, however, was not secured 
until the first of May following. It had not been my 
intention to relinquish ministerial labor entirely, but to 
gain a relief from pastoral duties, which, if faithfully per- 
formed, require more care, attention and Christian watch- 
fulness than the duties of the pulpit. Since that period 
till the present I have occasionally preached in this place, 
in Hillsboro, 111., in Monticello, 111., in McGregor, Iowa, 
in Lansing, Wis., while on a river trip, and nearly three 
months in Woodburn, near Bunker Hill. 

In September of this year myself and wife made a trip 
to St. Paul and Minneapolis. The evening of the 23d, 
after the sun had dropped behind the western shades, we 
stepped on board the good boat " Northwestern," for a 
long trip up the valley of the " Father of Waters." We 
were shown to ample accommodations, and heard little 
until at Hamburg, half an hour before sunrise, we took 
on forty-six boxes of peaches, from trees set by me some 
eight years before. The morning revealed, as we gath- 
ered in the cabin, and around the breakfast table, the 
large family of which we formed a part. There were 
little men and big men, little women and big women 
(one of the latter class I shall especially mention here- 
after), with a large sprinkling of children, some fretful, 



Home, School and Church. 341 

some gentle and loving, some romping and rollicking, 
many of them all the worse (as in many families) for the 
presence of their parents, but, on the whole not sadly 
uncomfortable. We breakfasted near Clarksville, and 
soon passed Louisiana* with its brick houses and stores, 
and Hannibal, with its big bridge, its lumberyards and 
sawmills, by day ; and Quincy and Canton crept by us 
in the night, until we brought up at Keokuk, when, in 
the language of St. Paul, " we cast anchor (cabled up) 
and waited for day." We were at the " Rapids " — 
must take another boat. Morning came, but not to an- 
swer the " thousand and one " questions to which the 
officers were invited. What boat will take us ? How 
long before we shall start ? Must we stay here long ? 
Shall we leave before dinner ? But the officers passed 
us without our being much the wiser. At dinner it was 
announced that we should probably leave Montrose, the 
shipping place above the Rapids, the next morning. 
This was twelve miles above Keokuk, traveled now by 
rail, though a ship canal is in rapid progress. 

Passing up the Mississippi from Clarksville to Quincy 
brought to my mind a race which. I witnessed some four 
years since, over the same section, by the " Tom Jasper ' 
and " Harry Johnson," at that time rival boats of two 
enterprising companies. I was on the " Jasper," a boat' 
on which I had frequently traveled, bound for Hamburg. 
Leaving St. Louis, the start left the " Johnson " about 
her length behind. The struggle to Alton, twenty-five 
miles, revealed no lack of energy in either boat. Both 
must land; no advantage, however was gained; passen- 



342 



Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 



gers were put off and taken on inside of five minutes, 
and they were again on their way. At the rate we were 
traveling we should reach Hamburg at about one o'clock 
a. m., and I took my berth early. At about twelve m. 
the clerk rapped at my door, saying, " We wish you to 
go with us to Keokuk. The "Johnson" is ahead, and if 
we stop at Hamburg, as the wind is flowing hard in 
shore, it will give her full three miles the start. If you 
can go with us it will oblige us very much. You may 
consider yourself booked for another trip, and we can 
leave you when we come back to-morrow night." I 
answered, " If I do this I shall have but one day at 
Hamburg instead of three, as I must be back on Satur- 
day." He continued, " We have rarely asked a man to 
do the like, but we thought, if possible, you would oblige 
us." I replied, " Well, go ahead," and laid myself back 
upon my couch for another nap. 

Morning revealed the "Johnson" nearly two miles 
ahead. Both boats made quick landings at Clarksville 
and Louisiana. At Hannibal the superior activity of our 
sable roustabouts (for they were all negroes), with proba- 
bly less freight, brought us out within two minutes of 
our rival, and a close race, more wild and exciting than 
safe, followed for nearly twenty miles. The figure-head 
of the " Johnson " was a negro carved, a good resem- 
blance, dressed in pants and jacket, and painted, lying 
about half reclined on his face, astride a pole, which was 
movable, and thus capable of being turned either to the 
right or left. The river was low, and when in any nar- 
row place we attempted to come up by her side, the 



Home, School and Church. 343 

" Johnson " would run up the same side and thus force 
us into the bank, or, what was worse, to risk the damage 
of running against their boat. To avoid either we would 
slacken speed and fall back, when the " Johnson " would 
glide on, turning upon us the stern of their " painted 
negro," as our colored boys thought, in a most insulting 
manner. As we neared the city of Quincy the boats 
ran side by side for more than four miles, most of the 
time so near that those on one boat might safely have 
stepped upon the other. Head to head they rolled back 
the current of the mighty river, watched with eagle eye 
by the two captains on the hurricane decks, and by every 
passenger and deck-hand on board. Interest, anxiety 
even, was depicted on every face, while every word 
spoken was in an undertone. The city, toward which 
we were steaming, was aware of the fact and all astir. 
The sidewalks and balconies were densely covered, and 
carriages filled the street. And now we are nearing the 
city; half a mile more and we are at our moorings. 
The " Jasper " by some means let out another link, and 
we came up to our moorings nearly one length ahead of 
our persevering rival. 

On reaching Montrose we learned that the deck-hands 
on the " Mitchell," our boat for St. Paul, had all " struck," 
and left in the night. The boat would not, therefore, 
leave before two days, as she must be unloaded and 
reloaded, and by another set of hands. Four of us — 
Miner, Smith, Dent, and myselt — availed ourselves of 
this delay for visiting Nauvoo, three miles from us on 
the east or opposite side of the river. Dr. Miner, one 



344 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

of the party, born in Lockport, N. Y., gave us much 
information. He knew Joe Smith who pretended that 
he found the plates, from which he translated the Book 
of Mormon, on the apex of a hill, three miles from Pal- 
myra, Wayne County, N. Y., among the blue slate which 
outcrops in that section. The small cave in which Smith 
pretended to receive the revelation, and wrote much of 
his book, calling it a translation, is on the farm of Dr. 
Miner's uncle, and in the same neighborhood where he 
got the plates. 

Nauvoo, with all its remembrances of impiety and 
folly, has a beautiful location, some two miles back from 
the Mississippi. This two miles commences at the river, 
a high bottom prairie, and gently rising inland becomes 
an elevation at the village of two hundred feet or more, 
which stands upon its brow. The Mississippi, as it ap- 
proaches Nauvoo from the north, turns its course west 
for two miles, then sweeping southward, and four miles 
farther on, eastward, making nearly a semi-circle, as in 
majestic grandeur it again resumes its onward course. 
Nauvoo is not a thriving, active place — a few stores and 
shops, quite a number ot orchards and vineyards, one 
Catholic and one Protestant church, with a number of 
quiet, tasteful and comfortable homes, is all which the 
traveler now sees on the spot once overlooked by Joe's 
massive Temple, one hundred and sixty feet in height, 
covering an area of one hundred and twenty-seven feet 
long, and sixty feet in width. The Temple is entirely 
in ruins ; a few massive stones point to the spot where 
once it stood ; a few small weeping willows very appro. 



Home, School and Church. 345 

priately take root in its foundation, and droop their pen- 
dant boughs over these remains of folly and shame. 

At half past twelve p. m. we stepped on board the 
" Mitchell," and soon pass " Fort Madison," nine miles 
above Nauvoo, mostly of plain brick architecture, and 
requiring but little imagination to suppose you are gazing 
upon a little Philadelphia. Soon Burlington, Iowa, was 
behind us, the river spanned by a bridge. In fact, the 
Mississippi seems to be but little in the way of car wheels 
or cart wheels! This is the fourth bridge we have 
passed, and ten or twelve more are before us ere we see 
the tumbling waters of St. Anthony. Passing Rock 
Island and Davenport we got a view of the spot where 
Col. Davenport was murdered ten or twelve years since by 
a band of prairie outlaws. Rock Island was his home ; 
he was there on leave of absence, in feeble health, and 
with no one but his niece, a girl of fourteen. Sunday 
morning found us at Dunleith, the extreme corner of 
Illinois, and four hundred and seventy miles from St. 
Louis. Onward, with Wisconsin on our right, we soon 
reached Prairie du Chien. 

In the afternoon, by the request of many gents and 
ladies on board, I preached a discourse, closing at Mc- 
Gregor, Iowa, where we remained till nine p. m. Still 
farther on, at Bad Axe City, was the home of Miss Fanny 
Wallace, a lady of remarkable dimensions, having been 
one of our family for seven days. She was born in Glas- 
gow, Scotland, and came to this country when but six 
years old. On the day Fanny was fourteen years old 
she and her father were both weighed. The father, 



346 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

rather thin and spare, weighed four hundred and eleven 
pounds j Fanny weighed only three hundred and seventy. 
She grew, however, in after life, and is now advertised 
to weigh six hundred and seventy-five pounds, though 
after the summer's travel she probably falls a little below 
these figures. She stands six feet two inches ; her arm 
girts above the elbow twe?iiy-five inches; and she meas- 
ures thirty-three inches from shoulder point to shoulder 
point. She is in good health, genial and interesting in 
conversation, and has been from her early years a member 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church. She has been con- 
nected with an exhibition, and appears as she is, a 
giantess. 

Passing Lake Pepin and its interesting scenery, Red- 
wing with its bluff on one side, two hundred feet high, 
standing as a sentinel by day and by night; and its sem- 
inary on the other side a hundred feet higher still, we 
reached St. Paul on Wednesday, at eight in the morn- 
ing, and in three hours had rode almost over the city. 
At half past twelve we were passing, in the midst of 
much rough scenery, up the deep river railroad, fourteen 
miles to Minneapolis. For much of the way the bluffs 
were from two hundred to three hundred feet above us. 
The old town of Selkirk, a few miles above St. Paul, 
attracted my attention. It is an old Scotch settlement, 
on a high broad plateau, and dating back more than two 
hundred years, even before King Philip's War in Pilgrim 
land. It is not large, but seems quiet and alone. In 
its isolated grandeur it scarcely seems a part of the enter- 
prise and life-vigor which crops out all around it. 



Home, School and Church. 347 

At half past one we stood on the railroad platform at 
Minneapolis, and engaged a coach to take us around the 
busy city and its suburbs. In a few hours we visited Lake 
Calhoun, King's Farm, Falls of Minnehaha, Fort Snell- 
ing, the cemetery where rest the remains of dear little 
ones whom Jesus has called home, the Manufactories and 
the Falls, with other portions of this enterprising city, and 
rested at dark from our busy labors at the "City Hotel.' 
The next day, crossing the bridge above the Falls for 
St. Paul, the afternoon found us on the good boat 
" Damsel," cheered by the whistle which spoke of friends 
and home eight hundred miles away. Again a river 
steamer is our home, and descending the vast valley, or 
gorge, or ship canal through which the mighty river 
flows. From the mouth of the Illinois to St. Paul, bluffs 
are found to a large extent on either side ; but the upper 
portion is much higher, more wild, more grand, approxi- 
mating to mountain peaks, but still maintaining the same 
regular ascent and general form. A few of them are 
rocky and ledgy — now and then an ascent of one hun- 
dred feet perpendicular, as at Maiden's Rock, on the 
east side of Lake Pepin — but generally green, rolling 
and beautifully grand, rising at angles from forty-five to 
sixty degrees, covered with grass, and scattered over with 
small trees of various kinds, as their tops reach toward 
the clouds from three to five hundred feet. October is a 
favorable month to view this grand, wild river scenery, 
draped as it is in autumn's grandest and best. If you 
would realize its grandeur, its beauties, see it for your- 
self. Imagination, tinged with the reality, cannot paint 



348 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

it; neither pen nor tongue can delineate the loveli- 
ness and majesty with which a Heavenly Parent has 
clothed it. 

Saturday morning found us at La Crosse, with a lovely 
rain gently falling. A party of Indians were encamped 
upon an island near, from which the women busied them- 
selves in paddling their canoes to the shore and back, 
regardless of the falling rain, for what purpose we could 
not discover, except for amusement. Sunday opened 
upon us, mild and pleasant, at De Soto. As we were 
leaving I was relating, while standing on the " guards," 
the story of a converted infidel, who treated with scorn 
the request of a dying mother; but years after he remem- 
bered her instruction, her prayers, her maternal blessing, 
and, believing, turned to God. At the conclusion W. 
A. Conner, a young man of about thirty, burst into tears, 
and, taking me by the hand, said, " I am a very wicked 
man ; I had such a mother ; can you tell me how I may 
see her again 1 " He seemed in great agony, and was 
much excited. I gave him words of instruction and 
encouragement, and, as many were gathering around, 
invited him to my room. There I learned that he had 
been leaning toward Universalism ; that he had been 
gambling for drink, cigars, and small matters, with a set 
of roughs ; that he had a wife and one babe on earth, 
and a mother and one babe in heaven. We kneeled in 
prayer, and he consecrated himself to God. 

At Lansing, Wisconsin, I preached a sermon to many 
pious listeners, which was not closed till we were on our 
way to Prairie du Chien. That evening I was invited, 



Home, School and Church. 349 

by a committee chosen on the boat, to address the peo- 
ple on temperance, but a severe cold, and increased 
hoarseness by speaking in the morning, prevented my 
acceptance. Monday was fair and fine, and found my 
friend Conner steadfast in his resolution to live for God 
and heaven. He was to leave us to-day, and we had a 
season of prayer in my room. He himself earnestly 
prayed to God for his presence and his aid to strengthen 
and to bless. He had met persecution ; the " boys " had 
taunted him' with being afraid to bet, and play, and drink, 
and he earnestly asked God to aid and strengthen him 
amid these temptations. At evening, leaving at Daven- 
port, he gave me his hand, promising to meet me in 
heaven. May God watch over him. Being detained by 
the Rapids at Rock Island and Davenport, we passed 
Muscatine on Tuesday, though only thirty miles below. 
Here the river runs directly west, as if forgetful of its 
destination, and does not for several miles find its mis- 
take and get again upon the right track. On Wednes- 
day we made a fine run, and on Thursday were trans- 
ferred to the " Northwestern," the same boat which, 
about nineteen days before, took us from Alton, and now 
returned us safely to St. Louis. Our trip was one of great 
social interest, of much rural pleasure and instruction, 
and without a serious drawback from our highest antici- 
pations. 

I have traveled in the following States : 
Maine, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, 

New Hampshire, Vermont, Maryland, 

Massachusetts, New Jersey, Missouri, 



35° 



Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 



Rhode Island, 


Arkansas, 


Iowa, 


Delaware, 


Nebraska, 


Wisconsin, 


Minnesota, 


Ohio, 


Michigan, 


Kansas, 


Indiana, 


West Virginia, 


Connecticut, 


Illinois, 


Virginia. 


New York, 


Kentucky, 


Total, 26. 


I have preached in 


the following States : 


Maine, 


Pennsylvania, 


Kentucky, 


New Hampshire, 


Ohio, 


Missouri, 


Massachusetts, 


New York, 


Iowa, 


Rhode Island, 


Indiana, 


Wisconsin. 


Connecticut, 


Illinois, 


Total, 14. 



The years of my ministry have been about forty, in 
which I have preached seven Dedication and four Or- 
dination and Installation sermons, in the States of Maine, 
New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Illinois. 

Since the commencement of this work another of my 
family, my eldest son. has left us and gone to the better 
land "beyond the river." His whole life has called forth 
a parent's love, and his death a tearful joy. Seven chil- 
dren still remain. The eldest is engaged in agricultural 
pursuits, teaching about six months yearly, and superin- 
tending the Sabbath school in his own village. The 
second of those still with us is Professor of Rhetoric in 
" Washington University," St. Louis, Mo., and Principal 
of the Academic Department. The third holds a high 
official position in Chicago, and is railroad and insurance 
agent. The fourth and youngest is " Classical Tutor " 
in the University where his brother is Protessor. One 



Home, School and Church. 351 

of the sons-in-law is Professor of Mathematics in the 
State Normal University, Illinois. A second is Principal 
of the "Adams Grammar School," Boston, Mass. A 
third is attorney at law, Bloomington, Illinois. Five of 
the seven are receiving stated salaries, while all are am- 
ply compensated and highly successful in their labors. 
More than this, as a cause of parental gratitude to our 
Heavenly Father, all are the professed disciples of Christ, 
and we trust moving onward by Divine guidance in the 
"path of life." 

Soon after my release from pastoral duties I was offered 
the financial agency of Illinois College, but my at ad- 
vanced age, and with the prospect of a sudden call from 
the Master, I have, in the exercise of a thankful gratitude, 
declined, for the same reasons that two years before I 
refused to accept a somewhat similar invitation at Mon- 
ticello. It is not my wish, however, to retire from all 
labor in the cause of truth. Oh no ! I hope to have 
the harness on when I hear the Master's call. In this 
section I shall endeavor to do whatever seems to demand 
my labor. Myself and wife, with whom I have lived 
fifty-six years, still enjoy good health. I have supplied 
a neighboring pulpit three months, and prepared this 
work for the press within the present year, and Bunker 
Hill, Illinois, is my home. It is the place where my 
remains, I trust, will rest when my soul shall pass to a 
nobler life. The far-off scenes of my earlier life-toils, the 
remembrance of the young and the old, will ever be 
fresh in my recollections. Blessed and hallowed, I see 
them as I write ! But this place is rendered very dear 



352 Life-Incidents of R. C. Stone. 

by immediate associations of the most interesting charac- 
ter; by those heart-felt attachments; by those joyous, 
aye, and those tearful experiences ; by those elevated and 
sanctifying contemplations and labors upon the great 
themes of religion, which time cannot change, and death 
can never erase. Most tenderly and sacredly shall I 
remember my labors with this people. Their earnest 
efforts, their kindness and Christian sympathy, will remain 
while memory retains a seat in my soul. And when my 
work is done, may my eyes be closed, and my remains 
be borne to that gate of a nobler life by the hands of 
those same kind friends, who have aided and cheered my 
labors here. Here let us pause, and here 

" Rejoice that mortal fears and storm and cloud, 
By faith are wasted, like a snowy shroud 
On April's bloom." 

The life beyond is peace and love. 




1* 



fr« 



